DB Response
Please see attached
a year ago
10
DonovanSaona.rtf
ThomasMusick.rtf
DonovanSaona.rtf
Donovan Saona The responding officer and first officer on the scene needs to immediately determine the course of action for the situation. Ensuring the scene is safe and secure is the top priority, safety for everyone around and other law enforcement officials that will arrive. Medical assistance would be the next on that list if that is needed. Next, all officers would begin to cordon off the area off the area, removing any unauthorized people, and preserving evidence until the investigators bag it. Evidence collection shouldn't begin until all photos have been taken either. "Upon arriving at a crime scene, the responding officer needs to determine what should be done first to secure the scene and make the scene safe for citizens and law enforcement officials" (Morris & Merson, 2017, cite p. #). The first officer on scene also needs to be aware of his/her actions staying within the law. A big example of this is making sure you have probable cause when conducting searches or pat downs. Some situations the officer will need a search warrant; the main objective is to uphold the law without violating anyone's rights. This is a big reason why report writing is so important, if done correctly can prove an officer did not violate rights to an individual when explaining their actions in detail. "In processing the crime scene, your goal is to be methodical and thorough, following an approved crime scene processing system and using flexible guidelines and common sense" (Morris & Merson, 2017, cite p. #). After restoring order at the crime scene, that is when you can start gathering information through note taking and getting statements. Interviewing skills and techniques are very important and can be drastic to the fluidity of a case. Step one is getting the persons identification information down, after getting that basic information down is when you can start to get your W's of the situation: who, what, when, and where. As the first officer on scene, you can dictate how the situation goes and at all times it is important to stay composed.
ThomasMusick.rtf
Thomas Musick The first officer to arrive at a crime scene has a number of important duties that are the basis for the whole investigation. Their first and most important job is to make sure that everyone at the scene is safe and secure. This means rapidly figuring out what hazards could be present, such armed suspects or dangerous situations, and giving medical help to any victims who are hurt very away. The police must also keep others who shouldn't be there from getting into the area so that the scene stays clean. This is important for the investigation. After making sure the situation is safe, the officer's next important job is to collect evidence. The first step in this procedure is to write down everything you see when you first arrive, including the time of arrival, the weather, and any evidence that may not last long, such smells or food that goes bad rapidly. The officer should take preliminary pictures of the area from several angles and make a rough sketch of it to show where the evidence is. Keeping a complete evidence record is very important since it shows the chain of custody and makes sure that evidence may be used in court. Proper paperwork prevents people from saying that someone tampered with evidence and helps police and prosecutors perform their jobs. The first officer must write down evidence in both field notes and formal case reports. Field notes are a real-time, unedited record of everything you see, hear, and think. These notes are usually made by hand or typed out and contain information that may not be in the final report. On the other hand, the official case report gives a systematic, unbiased narrative of what happened in court. It has to be straightforward, short, and without any personal viewpoints. For instance, field notes would record a witness's precise words ("I saw a tall man in a red jacket run away"), while the case report might summarize the testimony in a neutral fashion ("The witness reported seeing a male suspect in red clothing fleeing the scene"). The first officer also has to talk to victims, witnesses, and suspects. To get honest answers, you need to separate people and ask open-ended questions. Officers should write down exact quotations in their notes, as well as comments about how the person being interviewed acted (for example, whether they were uncomfortable or hesitant). Later, these facts are put into official reports that concentrate on objective, factual descriptions of the material that was collected. Conclusion The initial officer's actions—securing the scene, collecting evidence, and conducting detailed interviews—are very important for the investigation to be successful. By following these rules, police make sure that evidence stays credible and can be used in court, which helps justice and accountability.