duties of the first responder to the crime scene

Patrol officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel are usually first to arrive on the scene; they are considered first responders
first responders can dictate the success or failure of investigative efforts
preservation of life is the primary dut assigned to an officer responding to a crime scene
securing and preserving the crime scene-associated evidence are also major duties of the first responder

Before a first responder can enter a scene they have to ensure they have a legal right to do it
- an officer must be familiar with their assigned district
- just because an officer was dispatched to an area does not specifically mean it is within the department’s jurisdiction
- to avoid conflicts, the officer must ensure that he/she is within his or her jurisdiction

this misses is to arrive safely to ensure the safety of whoever is calling for the police response
- some agencies have specific policies regarding duties and responsibilities at the crime scene
an officer should be familiar with these policies
the duties of the first responder are the same at every type of crime scene

actions of the responder upon arrival

maximize the safety of the scene
remain observant for any persons, vehicles, possible evidence, and overall conditions of the scene
guide EMS to the injured and preserve the scene
the officer should approach the seen in a manner that will reduce to risk of harm to themselves, while maximizing the safety of potential victims, witnesses
officers should use an indirect pathway on the scene to reduce scene alteration and contamination
the established alternate pathway should be used by both medical personnel and investigative personnel

officers should point out medical personnel potential evidence in the proximity of the victim to minimize contact with the evidence
mechanical loss: evidence is lost through the efforts of saving al ife
- this is an acceptable loss of evidence
the sense must be protected until all physical evidence has been dozens
the first officer on the scene must attempt to “freeze” the scene to prove is as it was found
- no one is allowed to needlessly move around or alter the scene
- witnesses, victims, and suspects should all be isolated and removed from the scene

crime scene scope and perimeter

the officer must identify the scope of the scene
- on boundaries are identified, a perimeter would be established

levels of containment

the outer perimeter I the first level of containment
- an area in the outer perimeter is designated for media personnel. it creates goodwill and cooperation between reporters and law enforcement
inside the outer perimeter, adjacent to the actual crime scene is the second level od containment
- this area is the only accessed by police and emergency personnel
- this area holds the command post
command post: established to coordinate on-scene activities and efforts sometimes called the “incident command”
- supervisory decisions are made at this point
- processing personnel use this area for their equipment as well
the perimeter that defines the specific crime scene target area is the third level o containment

exclusion of official visitors

difficult to prevent/prohibit “official sightseers”
every attempt should be made to exclude other officers, superiors, or government officials
explain the potential consequences of disturbing the scene
every person who enters the crime is a potential destroyer of physical evidence, even if it is unintentional

Identifiaction and protection of transiet evidence

locard’s exchange principle: there is trace evidence to be found at every crime scene and on every criminal
transient evidce:

initial scene documentation

a log should be established by the first responder to log all personnel who enter and leave the scene, including those present at arrival
- it is important that the first responder record an accurate arrival time and time the scene was secured

processing cases involving multiple scenes

primary scene: first encountered where evidence is located
- the primary scene is usually where the officer was dispatched to
secondary scene: other scenes identified later that are associated with the primary scene
- each scene must be processed correctly

scenes involving death

if the first responder can establish that a person is dead, through visible signs, rigor mortis, odor, or lividity. then the body should not be touched
medical examiner or coroner is contacted next
- in situations involving strangulation or hanging, the officer should do nothing to the body, unless signs of the life are present

scenes involving firearms and ammunition

Crime scenes don't