Starting a Police Investigation What happens when there is a crime?

Officers Arrive at the Crime Scene call an ambulance and assist injured people call an ambulance and assist injured people eliminate hazards that still pose a risk eliminate hazards that still pose a risk protect people at the scene protect people at the scene search the crime scene search the crime scene protect it from contamination. protect it from contamination.

Why Secure the Crime Scene? 1. to allow for a thorough search 2. to seize and collect physical evidence 3. to ensure that the physical evidence seized is admissible in court

Documenting a Crime Scene Investigators record their observations and the remarks of witnesses or suspects in a police log. Investigators record their observations and the remarks of witnesses or suspects in a police log. help officers to recall events when they testify in court. help officers to recall events when they testify in court. also use photographs, sketches and other recording techniques to document crime scene evidence. also use photographs, sketches and other recording techniques to document crime scene evidence.

So who does what?

Patrol Officer usually the first on the scene usually the first on the scene wraps yellow police tape around the crime scene wraps yellow police tape around the crime scene conducts initial interviews with witnesses conducts initial interviews with witnesses arrests suspects still on the scene. arrests suspects still on the scene.

Scenes of Crime Officer collects and preserves evidence collects and preserves evidence Eg. fingerprints and blood and hair evidence. Eg. fingerprints and blood and hair evidence.

Criminal Identification Officer examines the scene for physical evidence, analyzes it, and sends some types of evidence to a laboratory. examines the scene for physical evidence, analyzes it, and sends some types of evidence to a laboratory.

Criminal Investigations Bureau Officer has experience in a particular area of crime has experience in a particular area of crime supervises the investigation supervises the investigation interviews witnesses and suspects interviews witnesses and suspects draws conclusions from physical evidence draws conclusions from physical evidence arrests suspects arrests suspects

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