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DEATH INVESTIGATION FOR THE PATROL OFFICER/INVESTIGATOR

NCJ Number
43755
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 25 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1977) Pages: 56-66
Author(s)
H J POLIS
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES TO BE FOLLOWED IN CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS, INTERROGATIONS, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF DEATH INVESTIGATIONS ARE PRESENTED, AND BASIC FACTS RELEVANT TO COMMON TYPES OF DEATH ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT ALL PATROL OFFICERS SHOULD BE AS WELL VERSED IN THE TECHNIQUES OF INVESTIGATION AS ARE DETECTIVES AND THAT TRAINING PROGRAMS AIMED AT TEACHING OFFICERS TO HANDLE BOTH PATROL AND INVESTIGATION COULD ALLEVIATE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PATROL OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES. COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY OFFICERS UPON FINDING A DEAD BODY ARE NOTED. THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING EVERY DEATH SCENE AS THOUGH THE DEATH WERE A HOMICIDE IS POINTED OUT. GUIDELINES FOR GATHERING EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE AND FOR REPORTING THE DEATH ARE PRESENTED, AND ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE PRESENT IF MURDER IS TO BE PROVED ARE LISTED. THE ARTICLE DISCUSSES BASED ON THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE SEMINOLE TRIBE INTERROGATIONS OF SUSPECTS. A LIST OF 46 MATTERS THAT MUST BE COVERED IN THE DEATH INVESTIGATION IS PROVIDED. BASIC ANATOMICAL INFORMATION IS PRESENTED RELATIVE TO DEATHS FROM CUTTING AND STABBING, DROWNING, BLUNT FORCE, SUICIDE (SHOOTING, CUTTING AND STABBING JUMPS, POISON, NARCOTIC OVERDOSE), FALLS, AND NARCOTIC OVERDOSE, AND FOR FIREARM DEATHS, ASPHYXIAL DEATHS, AND SUDDEN OR UNEXPECTED DEATHS.