WK 7 DB Replies

Chris Wrzesien

During the course of a tour of duty on shift, a law enforcement officer, may encounter or definitely will come across a crime committed to a person that is serious in nature. The seriousness of the crime could rise to the level of a felony.  In the State of Florida, where I live, the crime against the person, which is called battery, is determined to be a felony when,  Intentionally or knowingly causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement or uses a deadly weapon. (FSS 784.045). Therefore, the suspect must have known and intentionally caused the harm or damage to the victim. 

When the crime against the person rises to the level of a felony, the police officer should ensure that there is a victim who is willing to cooperate with their investigation.  In rare cases, individuals are seriously injured by others but are not willing to cooperate to prosecute the crime.  Once the victim has been established the officer should thoroughly document the injuries the victim suffered. Taking photos, sometimes measurements of the injuries and even obtaining doctors statements of the injuries to add to the report.  Close attention to the scene where the incident occurred should be noted to document any weapons or instruments that caused the injuries. Locating and identifying any witnesses to the incident is important to all investigations, but more importantly a felony crime against a person. 

Any close circuit video or camera footage from neighborhood doorbell cameras would be important and pertinent to documenting the crime and the events that led up to the crime. 

Documenting a felony crime is no less important than documenting any other crime. Identifying the victim and suspect is paramount. Documenting the scene and identifying any weapons used and connecting that weapon to the victims' injuries should be at the center of the report. Felony crimes against people are often high-profile cases. (Merson pp145) Any crime report will be viewed by many, but a felonious crime against a person generates a lot of interest by many, most of whom would want to read the report.  A felony crime carries a minimum of one year in prison, a steep price to pay for sure, therefore many legal authorities including prosecuting attorneys, defenders, legal analysts, and judges will be viewing this report, therefore the report should be through, accurate, detailed and written to show the exact details of the crime. 

In Leviticus 19:18  “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself.” We are told do not to seek to hurt anyone but to love each other.  If we could learn this as a society, there would not be a need to document a felony crime, nor would there even be a need for the police.  Unfortunately, we will always need to identify, document and prepare reports on crimes against people which rise to felony levels. 

Tahirah Wooten

When it comes to felony investigations involving people like homicide, assault, or sexual violence; the way officers document the case is incredibly important. These types of crimes involve real human suffering, and the details captured in a report can have a lasting impact, not just on the legal process, but also on the lives of the victims and their families. Officers must be thorough, accurate, and respectful in their reporting. That includes recording exact statements, carefully describing the scene, and properly logging any physical evidence (Orthmann et al., 2020).

Compared to property crimes like burglary or arson, cases involving people are usually more emotionally intense. In property cases, reports focus more on what was taken or damaged, the estimated value, and any physical evidence, like fingerprints or surveillance footage. These are important details too, but they don't usually involve the same emotional weight as crimes against people (Palmiotto, 2022).

Good note-taking and clear writing are essential in both types of investigations, but even more so with cases involving people. A sloppy or vague report could lead to a miscarriage of justice or cause additional harm to a victim. That’s why it's crucial for law enforcement officers to write with clarity and integrity. From a biblical perspective, we are called to “act justly and to love mercy” (Micah 6:8, New International Version), which reminds us of the responsibility we carry when seeking justice for others.

Chris Wrzesien

During the course of a tour of duty on shift, a law enforcement officer, may encounter or definitely will come across a crime committed to a person that is serious in nature. The seriousness of the crime could rise to the level of a felony.  In the State of Florida, where I live, the crime against the person, which is called battery, is determined to be a felony when,  Intentionally or knowingly causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement or uses a deadly weapon. (FSS 784.045). Therefore, the suspect must have known and intentionally caused the harm or damage to the victim. 

When the crime against the person rises to the level of a felony, the police officer should ensure that there is a victim who is willing to cooperate with their investigation.  In rare cases, individuals are seriously injured by others but are not willing to cooperate to prosecute the crime.  Once the victim has been established the officer should thoroughly document the injuries the victim suffered. Taking photos, sometimes measurements of the injuries and even obtaining doctors statements of the injuries to add to the report.  Close attention to the scene where the incident occurred should be noted to document any weapons or instruments that caused the injuries. Locating and identifying any witnesses to the incident is important to all investigations, but more importantly a felony crime against a person. 

Any close circuit video or camera footage from neighborhood doorbell cameras would be important and pertinent to documenting the crime and the events that led up to the crime. 

Documenting a felony crime is no less important than documenting any other crime. Identifying the victim and suspect is paramount. Documenting the scene and identifying any weapons used and connecting that weapon to the victims' injuries should be at the center of the report. Felony crimes against people are often high-profile cases. (Merson pp145) Any crime report will be viewed by many, but a felonious crime against a person generates a lot of interest by many, most of whom would want to read the report.  A felony crime carries a minimum of one year in prison, a steep price to pay for sure, therefore many legal authorities including prosecuting attorneys, defenders, legal analysts, and judges will be viewing this report, therefore the report should be through, accurate, detailed and written to show the exact details of the crime. 

In Leviticus 19:18  “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself.” We are told do not to seek to hurt anyone but to love each other.  If we could learn this as a society, there would not be a need to document a felony crime, nor would there even be a need for the police.  Unfortunately, we will always need to identify, document and prepare reports on crimes against people which rise to felony levels.