Police Studies - Investigation and Report Writing
Interviewing Techniques
*Develop a plan of action* Conduct interview privately Put the person at ease Let the person do the talking Perfect questioning skills Select your questions carefully Don't challenge answers given Stay in control Take good notes Conclude the interview properly Learn from the experience.
Acronym for when more than one complaint report is needed
A SHARK Assault Sex offense Homicide (no matter how a person died, separate complaint report) Arson Really bad guy who was killed Killed, seriously injured, or likely to die resulting from motor vehicle/bicycle accident.
Report Writing
A good report = concise, complete, and correct. On official letterhead (UF-49). Used for all communications between this department and outside agents.
Complaint Report Worksheet
A handwritten form used by reporting member to record all complaints
Canvassing
A methodical door-to-door search for witnesses or persons with information concerning any crime or other occurrence of police interest. Document all info accurately. Terms like negative results or N/A or N/R should never be used. Who assigned the canvass, Time the canvass was conducted, location, number of floors (if applicable), number of elevators (if applicable), was rooftop canvassed, if building is equipped with video equipment, complaint report system.
Omniform Index
A report generated by omniform used to chronologically record complaints received. Serves as a catalog of complaints received for a particular precinct.
Joint Robbery Task Force - Major Case Squad
All armed bank robberies.
Special Victims Division
All sex crimes or attempts against any person of any age. Any allegation that a child less than 11 years of age is the victim of abuse inflicted by a parent or person legally responsible for the child's care
Complaints
Allegations of crimes, violations, and conditions, which require an investigation.
Complaint
An allegation of an unlawful or improper act or omission, or other condition that necessitates investigation to determine if any unlawful act or omission occurred.
When to refer to IAB
An impersonation of law enforcement officer coupled with a robbery will be referred to the IAB police impersonation investigation unit (PIIU). However UMOS must ALWAYS notify IAB if someone impersonates a police officer
How to classify one of the 7 major felonies and any other offense
Any of the 7 major felonies coupled with any other offense not within the 7 major felony categories will be classified as the appropriate major felony. Examples: Murder + kidnapping = murder robbery + criminal sexual act = robbery identity theft + grand larceny = grand larceny
Major Case Squad
Burglary (or attempt) of bank or bank safe Larceny by extortion (or attempt) from bank Truck hijacking Burglary of truck over $100,000 Commercial burglaries over $100,000 Warehouse robberies where object of crime is a truck or contents Art theft Robbery or attempt of a bank and perpetrator not armed (simulated gun/threatening note)
Omniform
Computer program designed to permit info from a complaint to be entered and stored on department computers
Incidents when more than one complaint report is needed
Every Dead Body: Dead on arrival (DOA). Homicide victim. Each perpetrator of a crime who is killed. Each person killed, seriously/critically injured and/or likely to die as a result of a motor vehicle/bicycle collision. Each Victim of a sex offense Each victim of an assault: Unless the assault is part of a sex offense Each additional person injured in an arson: Assault by fire or explosive Note: Critical injury will be determined based upon the on-scene assessment of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel
Proper preliminary investigations
Every UMOS must always Document an incident on a complaint report worksheet upon being informed that a complainant has been a victim of a crime Make every effort to obtain information necessary to complete all captions on a complaint report worksheet relevant to the reported incident Ensure complaint report worksheets are prepared and that proper notifications are made upon being informed a crime has taken place Proper documentation of crimes and accurate classification of complaints is crucial to the departments crime fighting strategies Members on patrol may not direct a complainant to go to a precinct, police service area or transit district merely to have initial report prepared Members on patrol may not direct a complainant who walks into a command to file a report, to return to the location of incident and call 911 for patrol unit to take report
Uncooperative or unwilling complainants
If a complainant provides information that established the elements of a crime, but then refuses to provide pedigree and contact info the UMOS will: Request response of patrol supervisor Patrol supervisor will direct the UMOS to classify the incident in accordance with the depts. crime complaint classification guide The complainant will be listed as "People of the State of NY" Members will not finalize an assignment indicating that a report will be taken at a later date If complainant is unwilling to remain at the scene to speak with a supervisor or speak with a detective, the UMOS is to obtain their pedigree and contact info and still fill out a complaint report worksheet The report is to be left "open" to the appropriate investigative unit for further follow up investigation. The complaint report worksheet will be processed into the omniform system and a complaint report will be generated.
Non Seven Major Felony
If the reported offenses are not one of the 7 major felonies the incident crime classification will be determined in the following order: Sort by category (felonies before misdemeanors before violations) Sort by classifications ("A" felonies before "B" felonies etc) Sort by degree (1st degree before 2nd degree etc) Sort by law article and section number (P.L. 120.00 before 125.00) Example: Identity theft 3rd degree ("A" misd.) + Petit Larceny ("A" Misd.) = Petit Larceny ("A" misd.)
When informed of a complaint which occurred in another command
Interview complaint and obtain facts Prepare complaint report worksheet Give complaint report worksheet to desk officer "Refer the complaint, NOT the complainant"
The seven major felony rule
MR RAB Steals Cars Murder* and non-negligent manslaughter Rape (All degrees) Robbery Assault (Felonious) Burglary Grand Larceny Grand Larceny, Motor Vehicle *Note: The attempt to commit an offense will be counted as the completed offense, except attempted murder, which will be counted as felonious assault
Order of which you must answer questions
NEOTWY - wheN - Time of occurrence wherE - Where occurred whO - Who was involved whaT - what transpired hoW - How incident occurred whY - Possible motive/reason
Complaint Reporting Importance?
Obtain timely intelligence, Quality of life problems, Develop crime strategies and tactics, gather information for COMPSTAT, "Refer the complaint, NOT the complainat"
Preliminary investigations
Proceed promptly and safely to the scene. The greater the delay arriving at the scene the greater possibility of lost evidence. En route to the scene mentally prepare yourself to the situation. Survey scene making mental notes. Collect evidence as required. Assist the injured. Determine if an offense has been committed. Make notes in your activity log. Obtain necessary assistance. Determine if a search warrant is needed. Identify, Isolate, and interview victims or witnesses. Identify, Isolate, and arrest any suspects. Submit required reports
Complaint Report UF-61
Report generated from the omniform computer system using the info from the complaint report worksheet
Factors a UMOS will not take into consideration when determining whether a complaint report worksheet is to be prepared
The ability of a complainant to identify a perpetrator The complainants willingness to follow through on an investigation The complainants willingness to prosecute an offender The complainants refusal to return to a command and speak with detectives The complainants refusal to view photographs The complainants ability to provide receipts for property they are reporting stolen (receipts are not required) The above situations require a complaint report worksheet to be prepared and do not justify a complaint as being labeled "uncooperative"
Complaint Follow up Informational
Used by reporting/investigating officers to report information of any other type... Case progress reports Case closed, no results Results of interviews Canvasses Additional arrests on same complaint
Complaint Follow up (DD5)
Used by reporting/investigation officers to report additional statistical data after the original complaint report has been submitted Changes involving: Crime classification (e.g. assault to murder) Clearances (unfounded cases, voided complaints) Time and date of occurrence Location/Jurisdiction Property (Additional stolen property not previously reported, serial numbers obtained for property previously reported) Arrest made after completion of Compliant Report UF-61
Referrals Precinct Detective Squad (PDS)
When investigation is required for... Any offense where victim suffers SPI Robbery with weapon or robbery of citizen 60 or older. If the B/RAM exists notify them in lieu of PDS Burglary & complaint is present or property over $5,000 (manhattan $10,000) or firearm/safe involved Complaint was victim of similar crime within last 6 months Perpetrator may be identified or known Pattern of similar crimes in area Unusual police or community interest Unusual modus operandi (MO) Impersonation of Law enforcement officer (excluding robbery) Identity Theft Other Complaints as deemed necessary by competent authority
