Day - 5

First Officer Responsibilities

  • Initial Response

    • The initial response to a call is a critical task often performed by patrol officers.
    • The first responding officer remains in charge until relieved by superior officer(s).
    • In the absence of life-threatening situations or exigent circumstances, the responding officer is responsible for attending to any injured persons or suspects until emergency personnel arrive.

  • Maintaining Crime Scene Integrity

    • Responding officers must ensure that their own actions and those of others do not disturb the crime scene.
    • Proper actions include:
    • Determining if a crime occurred.
    • Aiding victims.
    • Apprehending perpetrators.
    • Securing the area.
    • The crime scene should be clearly defined, with restricted access and the interior cleared of unauthorized personnel.
    • A record of the actions of the responding officer must be documented, as improper entry could:
    • Destroy or contaminate evidence.
    • Introduce misleading items into the crime scene for investigators.
    • Provide a basis for defense attorneys to discredit findings.

Examination of the Crime Scene

  • Gathering Information

    • Before examining the scene, investigators should gather as much intelligence as possible, including:
    • Developing a plan for the investigation.
    • Taking notes and photographs of the scene.
    • The "trail" is defined as the area where all apparent actions related to the crime took place, typically close to the point of entry.
    • Guidelines for examining the crime scene:
    • Examine floors before walking on them.
    • Search above head level.
    • Avoid touching anything unnecessarily.
    • Use your own lighting to aid visibility.

  • Canvassing & Follow-ups

    • Conduct canvasses during the early phases of the investigation to identify potential witnesses.
    • Canvassing should:
    • Be thorough, with door-to-door strategies.
    • Involve speaking to everyone separately.
    • Include seeking proof of identity from individuals.
    • Document all findings comprehensively.
    • Those speaking to people claiming they weren't at the crime scene should still be approached, as their testimonies can be relevant.

Follow Up Investigations

  • Continuation of Duties
    • Investigators’ responsibilities do not conclude at the crime scene; follow-up investigations are crucial for exploiting leads uncovered during the initial investigation.
    • Important qualities for follow-up investigations:
    • Organizational skills.
    • Attention to detail, particularly in piecing together fragmented information.

Chain of Custody

  • Definition and Importance

    • Chain of custody refers to the chronological documentation and paper trail that shows the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence.
    • It is critical that evidence is maintained securely until the case goes to court.

  • Responsibilities

    • Law enforcement is responsible for maintaining the chain of custody.
    • Anyone handling evidence must affix their name and badge number to the evidence package.
    • All evidence must be marked immediately upon seizure, typically with the initials of the seizing officer, to ensure integrity of the chain of custody.