Day - 4 Study Notes on Patrol Duties and Preliminary Investigation

Exam Overview

  • Exam 1: Score: 89
  • Exam 2 Material: Focused on the expansion of patrol officers' duties.

Expansion of Patrol Officers' Duties

  • Patrol officers are increasingly assigned tasks that were traditionally reserved for investigators.
  • Importance: Patrol officers provide greater assistance in solving cases.

Police Department Reporting System

  • A police department must have a comprehensive reporting system that includes details on the investigative efforts made to search for leads.

Structured Items Defining Patrol Officer Accomplishments

  • Twelve Key Items to Accomplish if an Arrest is Not Imminent:
    1. Immediate availability of witnesses: Ensures officers can question witnesses promptly.
    2. Name(s) of suspect: Essential for further investigation and identification.
    3. Information about suspect location: Crucial for locating suspects effectively.
    4. Information about suspect description: Aids in identifying the suspect visually.
    5. Information about suspect identification: Links the suspect with the crime through ID.
    6. Information about suspected vehicle and movement: Helps trace the suspect's potential escape route.
    7. Information about traceable property: Important to recover stolen or involved items.
    8. Information about significant modus operandi (MO): Understanding the method of operation provides insight into the suspect's behavior.
    9. Information about significant physical evidence: Links the suspect to the crime scene.
    10. Discovery of useful physical evidence: Enhances the investigation.
    11. Judgment by officer that no evidence points to any other suspects: Helps narrow down leads in the case.
    12. Judgment by officer regarding case disposition: Evaluates the probability of the case being solved, assessing whether there are sufficient leads or evidence.

Responsibilities, Reports, and Investigative Duties (IDs)

  • The actions taken by the first arriving officer and initial investigative personnel can significantly influence the outcome of a criminal investigation.
  • Key responsibilities include:
    • Assisting victims.
    • Possible apprehension of suspects.
    • Preservation of evidence to maintain its integrity for further investigation.
    • Reporting findings accurately and comprehensively.
    • Conducting interviews with witnesses to gather information.

Preliminary Investigation Phase

  • Definition: The preliminary investigation is the initial inquiry conducted by officers to achieve two primary objectives:
    1. Establish facts and circumstances surrounding a suspected crime.
    2. Preserve evidence relevant to the crime.
  • Components of the Preliminary Investigation:
    • Securing the crime scene: Ensures that evidence is protected from contamination or loss.
    • Considering the possibility of suspect unrest: Officers must assess whether a suspect is still a threat.
    • Locating and questioning witnesses and victims: Gathering firsthand accounts is vital.
    • Documenting the crime scene: Using photographs and sketches to capture the scene for analysis.
    • Identifying and collecting evidence: Extracting physical evidence for analysis and use in court.

Understanding Crime Scenes

  • Definition: Crime scenes are locations where evidence may be present, though they may not necessarily be where the crime was committed.
  • Observation: There can be multiple crime scenes for a single crime, indicating a broader area of investigation.