Crime Scene Investigation Procedures

This paper explores the process and procedures of a police officer when it comes to working a crime scene investigation. Although there are multiple police departments just inside Cobb County, all have the same basis for working a crime scene and procedure for the timeline of jobs to be completed on a crime scene. In the book Criminal Investigation (Swanson, Chamelin, Territo, & Taylor, 2012), chapter three covers the crime scene investigation process of three characters: the police officer, criminal investigator and the crime scene technician. This paper will strive to outline and detail the job of the police officer. According to the book Criminal Investigation (Swanson et al., 2012), there is a specific timeline for a police officer that

According to the book, the following is how my job as a police officer would have gone (Swanson et al., 2012). The class was dispatched at 10:57 am from the precinct (room 3031). We were notified that at 4060 Kennesaw Lane SW, someone called and notified police that someone had been stabbed. The caller, who decided to remain nameless advised that they heard someone in the conference room saying “please call 911, I have been stabbed.” She also relayed that two people were seen running from the scene, a black male and a white female. Police showed up on the scene, and at that point started what is called the preliminary investigation (Swanson et al.,

I approached the scene cautiously, being careful to assure that there was no violence still occurring, and that the suspects were not still on the scene (Swanson et al., 2012). I determined that the victim was deceased and therefore did not need medical attention, although an ambulance was on its way (called upon the 911 call). I then quickly established the boundaries of the crime scene and secured it (Swanson et al., 2012). I created a barrier with caution tape and made sure to log who came to and from the crime scene. According to the book, crime scene control is a crucial element in the preliminary investigation (Swanson et al., 2012). I made sure that no evidence was tampered with or taken from the scene by emergency personnel (EMS). I then issued a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) for a white female and black male who may be together or near the scene (Swanson et al., 2012). Police could then conduct a neighborhood canvass to attempt to locate witnesses who may have heard or seen something. Businesses could also be interviewed with a clear view of the crime scene. In the staged crime scene’s case, there was an office directly outside the conference room that could act as a business. The investigators and crime scene technicians would then show up and assist with the interviews and “bagging and tagging” of all physical