G.O. 6.03 - Evidence Collection-Admin

Scope & Legal Caveats

• Applies to Norwich Police Department (NPD) personnel only; does not confer new rights or higher legal standards to third parties.
• Violations:
  • Administrative sanctions for breaking the General Order (GO).
  • Civil/Criminal sanctions handled separately within judicial system.
• Accreditation references embedded: $1.2.4$, $1.2.6$, $1.7.6$, $1.7.9$, $2.2.1$, $3.9.4$.
• Supersedes all previous NPD guidance on evidence-collection administration.

Administrative Identity & Metadata

• General Order Number: $6.03$ — “Collection of Evidence – Administration”.
• Original & Re-issue/Effective date: $05/13/2020$.
• Section: $6$ (Investigative Functions).
• Authorized by Chief of Police Patrick J. Daley.

Purpose Statement

• Provide a written directive ensuring:
  • Use of known standards (control samples) during evidence collection.
  • Availability of adequately trained personnel $24$-hours a day for crime-scene or traffic-collision evidence duties.

Policy Highlights

• Commitment to thorough, efficient investigation of crime & traffic scenes.
• Department responsibilities:
  • Deliver technical training so “sufficient” officers can process scenes.
  • Procure & maintain equipment for photographing, marking, collecting, and preserving physical evidence.
  • Maintain procedural guidelines covering identification, collection, and preservation—including the mandated collection of known standards when available.

Core Procedures

A. Maintaining Qualified Personnel ($24$-Hour Availability)

• All sworn officers receive baseline training in crime-scene processing, crash investigation, & evidence handling.
• Preliminary investigation factors steering how far a patrol officer proceeds:
  • Individual skill/training level.
  • Time/personnel constraints.
  • Gravity & character of incident.
  • Solvability factors.
  • Available equipment.
  • Any other pertinent factor.

1. Determining Need for Detectives / Accident Investigators

• Minor incidents: Shift Commander designates a patrol officer to:
  • Photograph, sketch, collect, mark, package, transport, & submit evidence to property room.
• Complex incidents: Initial officer requests Detective via Shift Commander.
  • Commander first consults Unit Supervisor for on-duty specialists.
  • If none available, Commander decides whether to call-back personnel on overtime.

2. Timely Response Expectations

• Scene secured & controlled until specialized personnel arrive.
• Specialists provide Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) & any interim instructions.
• Detectives:
  • Generally on $24$-hour callback roster (Chief determines schedule).
  • Must notify Supervisor if unavailable (illness, vacation).
  • Supervisor arranges alternate coverage.
• External resources (e.g., Connecticut State Police) utilized when:
  • No NPD Detective available in time, or
  • Incident requires capabilities beyond NPD’s capacity.
  • Requests routed through Chief of Police or designee.

3. Specialized Training Protocol

• Only officers with formal Detective or Accident-Investigator schooling used in those roles.
• Department sets minimum training standards (external academies, specialty schools).
• Field-training/orientation:
  • Newly appointed Detectives/Investigators shadow a veteran for $6$ weeks (note: draft once listed $2$ weeks, amended to $6$).
  • Primary Detective files report to Unit Commander detailing curriculum & readiness.
  • New appointee cannot act as primary scene technician until successful completion.

B. Collection of Known Standards

• Mandate: Whenever feasible, collect samples from known sources for comparison.
  • Crucial for evidence types: blood, hair, fibers, paint, glass, wood, metal, soil, tool marks, footwear, tire impressions, etc.
• Documentation requirements:
  • Officer’s report must state location & method of standard collection.
  • Same info repeated on laboratory submission sheet.
• Significance: Known standards allow direct comparison to suspect evidence, reducing false matches & supporting admissibility in court (chain-of-custody integrity).

C. Crime-Scene Vehicles, Facilities & Equipment

1. Crime Scene Processing Truck

• Maintained by Detective Division; operated only by Division personnel unless Commander authorizes otherwise.
• No special driver license required, but employees must demonstrate safe-operation proficiency.

2. Vehicle & Lab Checklists

• Commander maintains:
  • Vehicle checklist: equipment inventory & maintenance checks.
  • Evidence Processing Lab checklist: lab-equipment inventory.
• Monthly inspections mandatory; completed checklists archived by Commander.

3. Equipment Replacement / Restocking

• Personnel submit written notice to Commander whenever supplies need replenishment or tools require replacement.

4. Training on Equipment

• Commander ensures all staff trained on existing & newly acquired gear.

5. Minimum Equipment Capabilities Maintained

• Latent-fingerprint recovery.
• Photography (still & possibly video).
• Scene sketching tools/software.
• Evidence collection & preservation kits.
• Trace-evidence & DNA collection/preservation.
• Crash-investigation tools (measuring devices, drones, FARO scanners, etc.).

6. Detective-Assigned Vehicles & Kits

• Detectives may have personal take-home vehicles/gear for quicker response when full truck not required.
• Weekly equipment check by detective; ensures operational readiness.

7. Secure Processing Facilities

• Dedicated secure lab & processing bay for large items/vehicles.
• Access restricted to investigation personnel; remains locked when not in use.
• Evidence processed per:
  • Directive $6.05$ – Property & Evidence Function.
  • Directive $6.04$ – Collecting & Processing Evidence.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Known Standard: A control sample from an identifiable source (e.g., victim’s hair, legitimate paint from a vehicle) used to compare against questioned evidence.
• Solvability Factors: Variables (witnesses, physical evidence, suspect info) that indicate likelihood of solving a case.
• Callback Duty: Off-duty period where detectives remain reachable and must respond within a reasonable time frame.

Ethical / Practical Implications

• Proper evidence administration ensures due-process rights for suspects & victims, preventing wrongful convictions.
• Clear training & checklists support officer safety, scene integrity, & judicial confidence.
• Mutual-aid with external agencies underscores inter-jurisdictional cooperation, preventing delays when local resources strained.

Real-World Relevance & Cross-Lecture Links

• Physics of crash investigation (momentum, skid analysis) relies on accurate scene measurements described here.
• Links to forensic biology: DNA collection standards dovetail with chain-of-custody principles from Directive $6.05$ covered in prior lectures.
• Evidence photography standards align with digital-forensics metadata preservation discussed in earlier coursework.