NCJ Number
47972
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE BASIC INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FIRST PATROL OFFICER TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE OF A CRIME ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIVE OBJECTIVES OF THE OFFICER ARE THE FOLLOWING: TO DETERMINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED; TO LOCATE WITNESSES AND SOURCES OF EVIDENCE THAT AID IN DETERMINING WHAT HAS HAPPENED; TO LOCATE AND PRESERVE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE; TO DETERMINE WHAT FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN; TO OBTAIN AND EVALUATE THE ACCURACY OF WITNESSES' STATEMENTS; TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO ACT ON THE STATEMENTS AND EVIDENCE FOUND AT THE SCENE; TO RECORD WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED, AND WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE; AND TO COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION AND MAKE APPREHENSION WHERE APPROPRIATE. GUIDELINES ARE PRESENTED RELATIVE TO RESPONSE TIME, APPROACHING THE CRIME SCENE, AIDING THE INJURED, EVALUATING THE SITUATION, OBTAINING BASIC INFORMATION, INTERVIEWING WITNESSES, DETERMINING WHETHER A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED, PROTECTING AND SEARCHING THE CRIME SCENE, AND FILING A REPORT. A DISCUSSION GUIDE, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, AND READING SUGGESTIONS ACCOMPANY THE TRAINING KEY. (LKM)