Criminal investigations

Criminal investigation
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Abstract
Homicide crime is a significant crime scene that calls for the attention of a police officer or detective. There exist various actions taken to be taken by the agent in charge of the crime scene. Therefore, the officer should possess eloquent crime scene management skills, which will help in the collection of viable evidence. The evidence from a crime includes the testimonies of the witnesses, photographs taken at the crime scene, exhibits (physical) a brief analysis of the crime scene, and an analysis of the evidence collected. These paper analyses the process and protocol observed to manage an imaginary homicide crime scene.
The paper outlines the most significant actions taken, their importance, as well as the consequences, in case of their negligence. Besides, the article describes the duties and the responsibilities of the investigator. The success or failure of the investigation on homicide depends on the actions of the responding officer. Safe arrival, defusion of dangerous situations, provision of medical assistance, apprehension of any suspects, identification of witnesses, securing of the crime scene and calling for support are some of the primary procedure the first officer should take. Failure to observe the strategies mentioned earlier results to a breakdown of the investigation process. This paper focuses on an imaginary homicide crime scene, and analysis the actions the first officer takes to the crime scene.

The article is to depict the importance of systematic, proper procedure, and professionalism in handling a homicide crime scene by a first officer responding to the call.
Keywords: Homicide, crime scene, evidence, exhibit, witnesses, fingerprint, suspects.
Arrival and securing the crime scene
Upon safe arrival to the apartment (homicide crime scene), the most significant action I will take is securing the scene. I will not down vital dispatch information such as the address and location of the crime scene, time of arrival, the parties involved and the nature of the call made. Besides, I will note down any vehicles at or leave the apartment and its neighborhood. I will then approach the crime scene with caution while scanning the entire crime scene (Rod and Darryl, 2016). At this time I will be assessing the crime scene through observations of smell, listening and looking. For safety purposes, I will assume that the crime is in progress until I confirm otherwise. I will seek to observe any possible multiple crime scenes. However, I will focus majorly on the primary crime scene. I will take into consideration possibilities of the body of the deceased being ‘dumped.’ While at the apartment, I will call for backup and direct the respective responding units into the crime scene.
The most significant of observing the protocol mentioned earlier is to ensure that the apartment is free from disturbance and that physical and other types of evidence remain uncontaminated. The consequence of not taking the action of securing the crime would be a loss of vital evidence (Rod and Darryl, 2016). For instance, if I do not observe a methodical and expeditious approach to the apartment, some witnesses and or necessary evidence may leave the crime scene, which would result to a tampered homicide investigation, leading to probable failure.
Controlling any dangerous situations or persons
I will ensure that the safety of the people and property at the crime scene is observed, through diffusion of possible threatening conditions, for instance, violent suspects, unruly crowds or unattended weapons (Rod and Darryl, 2016). Also, I will scan the apartment for possible chemical, electricity, gas, explosives and fire hazards. Besides, I will approach cautiously to reduce the risk of harming myself, the responders, the suspects as well as the witnesses. Lastly, it will call for the help of supervisory personnel for the necessary assistance.
Failure to secure and eliminate any threats at the apartment may result in damage to property, harm to officers at the scene, and probable chaos from the unruly crowd. The above safety procedures are essential since they enhance the well-being of individuals (responders, officers, suspects, and witnesses) at the crime scene. Possible gas leaks or electrical faults in the apartment may result the condo may result in a fire hazard thus compromising the homicide investigation due to the probable loss of vital evidence or lives. Therefore securing the apartment protects the lives of the victim’s roommates, the officers on guard and myself as the responding detective and also protects damage to property (Kevin and Fitzpatrick, 2013).
Securing controlling persons at the scene and apprehending suspects
I would identify the people at the crime scene and limit the number of responders gaining entry into the apartment. I will prevent the possibility of the victim’s roommate destroying the evidence on him since he is the primary suspect by limiting his movement. During identification of the individuals at the scene, I will separate the roommate (prime suspect) from the uniform officers on guard. The consequence of not controlling the movement of persons accessing the apartment is an alteration of the evidence, and compromising the integrity of the scene (Kevin and Fitzpatrick, 2013).
Since the roommate of the deceased is the primary suspect due to the fluid on his/her body, I will arrest them. As a precautionary measure of avoiding harm from the suspect, I will call for backup. In case the suspect volunteers to give any statements, I will document it, ensuring that I put down the date, time as well as the possible circumstances of the report. In this homicide case, I will question the roommate of the deceased. However, I will first read the Miranda rights to the suspect. Besides, I will not allow the suspects to smoke, use the telephone or the bathroom. Also, I will not let the suspect eat or take any drinks. Also, I will not allow the suspect or any persons in the room to move the knife on the floor which is the primary weapon. The consequence of allowing the suspect to use the bathroom or other facilities in the place is that I will tamper with critical evidence such as possible blood stains on their clothes, thus jeopardizing the investigation of the crime (Kevin and Fitzpatrick, 2013).
Call for assistance
This step co-occurs with other processes it is worth noting it separately. In the homicide crime scene, I will call for the aid of specialists, for instance, evidence photographers and evidence collectors. These specialists will collect physical evidence, for example, weapons, bullets, displaced furniture, notes or letters, and other tools. Besides, the specialists will gather body materials such as blood, vomit, semen, hair, and urine. Lastly, the experts will note impressions such as bullet holes, bullet marks, finger and palm prints, tire tracks and newly damaged areas (Rod and Darryl, 2016). The failure to call for a specialist would lead to compromising the investigation of the homicide, since some evidence such as fingerprints, footprints and tire tracks may vanish or erode with time.
In a nutshell, as the first officer of a homicide crime, there are some actions to take before, at and after a crime has occurred. These actions or protocol ensures that the investigation process is a success. Failure of observance of these actions compromises the entire homicide investigation process. The four most significant actions a first officer should take after responding to a call are; safe arrival and securing of the crime scene, ensuring elimination of all dangers and possible hazards. Also, controlling any danger situation or person at the crime scene is a major action. For instance, an armed and violent suspect may be a threat to the responders to a crime scene. The third primary action a detective ought to take after dispatching to a homicide call is controlling the movement of people in and out of the crime scene (apartment in our imaginary case). Also, the first detective should deal with the apprehension of prime suspects as a vital action in a homicide crime scene. Lastly, the police officer/ detective who responds to the call ought to call for assistance. The officer can call for backup to help in making an arrest to the suspect. Also, the officer should seek the professional assistance of photographers who are experienced in taking photos of the evidence available as well as ballistic experts who can help analyze cases involving guns and projectile weapons.
In a nutshell, as the first officer of a homicide crime, there are some actions to take before, at and after a crime has occurred. These actions or protocol ensures that the investigation process is a success. Failure of observance of these actions compromises the entire homicide investigation process. The four most significant acts a first officer should take after responding to a call are; safe arrival and securing of the crime scene, ensuring elimination of all dangers and possible hazards. Also, controlling any dangerous situation or person at the crime scene is a significant action. For instance, an armed and violent suspect may be a threat to the responders to a crime scene. The third primary action a detective ought to take after dispatching to a homicide call is controlling the movement of people in and out of the crime scene (apartment in our hypothetical case). Also, the first detective should deal with the apprehension of prime suspects as a necessary action in a homicide crime scene. Lastly, the police officer/ detective who responds to the call ought to call for assistance. The officer can call for backup to help in arresting the suspect. Also, the officer should seek the professional assistance of experienced photographers in taking photos of the evidence available as well as ballistic experts who can help analyze cases involving guns and projectile weapons.

References
BIBLIOGRAPHY Kevin Lothridge; Frank Fitzpatrick. (2013, September). Crime Scene Investigation . A Guide for Law Enforcement . Florida: National Institute of Justice.
Rod Gehl and Darryl Plecas. (2016). Introduction to Criminal Investigation. Processes, Practices and Thinking. Justice Institute of British Columbia.