Expert: Loren Stevens - 1/22/2008

Question
Hey Loren- Thank you again for the excellent and comprehensive answer you provided last time regarding 'standard proceedures' as represented in a crime drama.  Next Question: The criminal's identity is known, and he's wanted for multiple homicides; this is a very public case.  Briefly, how does the City and State coordinate their efforts? If the police suspect a citizen may be the next target, is that person warned, put under some kind of protection, or watched closley and used as 'bait'?  CrimeLibrary.com is a great resource, but lots of the cases are 20 years old, and I'm sure the game has changed.  Thank you again for your time, and I hope the Year is off to a great start for you and your family.  ~Adam

Answer
Hello Adam,
First, permit me to say that my offerings are not absolutes, and all inclusive, but hopefully will make some contribution to your interests.
Anytime there is a suspected murder(s), where there can conceivably be multiple jurisdictional interests, certain understandings are required.
After consulting with necessary parties, it will be agreed upon as to who will be the primary lead agency, and the primary assigned Investigator to spearhead.
Generally, all agencies will work in harmony on a murder case, that tends not to be as competitive as working dope cases or something like that.
Participating in the decision making for jurisdictional responsibility, will include the prosecutors of the agencies involved, e.g., U.S.Attorney's office for Feds, State A/G for state agencies, or District Attorney for county agencies. The "city" usually isn't in the mix, as city codes are misdemeanors, and felonies will be state or fed issues (county also does state statutes).
Where there is no clear cut division of jurisdiction, the negotiations will consider who is suffering with the heaviest case load, who has available personnel resources, etc. Or, they might cut it up, and divie up the work, and go for a "joint" investigative initiative...even though one of the agencies will have the case in chief as a responsibility...If the case is solved...all the agencies get to enjoy a positive entry in their agency UCR data assessment. If it's an unsolved, only the primary agency takes the hit in UCR (they'll all deny this though.)
Being a "very public case" somebody needs to be in charge of media releases. You don't want everything dumped out to the 4th estate....if for nothing else, you need to hold something back to be able to sift through the phoney confessions of a mental.
When you say the suspect is wanted.......what does that mean to you?
Is there an arrest warrant outstanding for him/her? Better yet, is there a Grand Jury Indictment outstanding?
On a complicated murder case, it's smarter and more cost-effective to run it through a GJ....rather than a preliminary hearing in a court of first consideration, like a Justice Court. This ends up making you try the case twice, and dumps out all the stuff you were saving for trial.
Plus, it doesn't show-case informants, undercover cops, witnesses et al.
As for putting out a want on the suspect, you'd notify all the agencies in your surrounding areas, and places the suspect is known to frequent. But absolutely, you'd enter into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center)so that all agencies in the country will know, in the event the suspect is stopped on a routine violation or something.
And, if there is any reason to remotely think the suspect could go international, you'd want INTERPOL to be notified. Every state has an Interpol rep, where it's all funneled to DC for international distribution, with appropriate protocol. Each of these notification vehicles embraces requirements for data entry.
They could distribute the info inter and intra state through state networks, or regional networks, like RISS (regional information sharing system)....my point, is there are an abundance of ways to get the word out, but NCIC is a must!
If it's that public of a case, they would hit up the various news mediums for some "public service" coverage....get em working for the cops, rather than hustling a byline...
When you say the police may suspect the next target....consider the range of: mere suspicion...............to absolute certainty, and try to quantify a probability.
What you do, depends on that assessment, as there is huge demand to limited police resources.
The cops are essentially jugglers and balances, as they have a fiduciary obligation to the agency, along with a due diligence responsibility to the ...possible ...would be...decedent.
Regardless of where your assessment of probability is on this caper, on a sliding scale, you'll still be required to advise the potential victim.
If you don't, and something happens....the window of liability exposure is WIDE open.
Plus, if the info is more oriented to mere suspicion, you'll at least give the potential victim a heads up to take steps to protect themselves, and exercise a measure of care and caution in the course of their life' activities.
Now, if there are juveniles, or mentally incompetent people in this mix, the dynamics of responsibilities get even more convoluted.
Using a citizen as "bait" will get the cops gulping anti-acids, and kaopectate.
The notion has huge risks.
Sometimes, you can appear to be using the victim for bate, but it's bunk, and a cop is the covert bait.
Sorry, don't mean to ramble on.
Hope some of this stuff is helpful. If there is something I missed, or that you specifically need, feel free to let me know.
Good Luck,
loren

Adam, Thank you for the kind words....re: teaching.
Been there-done that. Primarily, in areas of managing covert operations, multi-agency proactive projects, undercover officer development, organized crime, political corruption, labor racketeering, and murder for hire.
Fun to do, but fatiguing on the road, during which, my case load didn't evaporate either.
Cops are alot like Attorney's, Doctors, college Professors et al. For them to utter the words: "I don't know", is a real struggle. The point, is you can't teach someone who thinks they already know everything. Naturally, this premise falls apart, evidenced by a truck load of litigation every fiscal year.
Upper police management is a bit different. They'll learn as much as necessary, but not to the point that steps on their "plausible deniability" status....you kind of have to be in the game, to fully grasp this point of view.
In any event, thanks again, and good luck on your book.
Remember, in real life, the inherent banana peal, is going to be the upwardly mobile aspirant, who doesn't know...s/he doesn't know...very dangerous mix.
Regards, loren

Adam, a little more, then I'll leave you alone.
I suggest you get a copy of: "Cop Speak" by Tom Philbin. It will help you with lingo, and other relevant terms.
And, try to get your hands on an old murder text, like:"Homicide Investigation" by LeMoyne Snyder, M.D. It's a bit dated, but still is an excellent source in a variety of ways. I doubt there will be anything on DNA, but other than that, info on offing folks remains about the same.
And, a great but hard to find item, is: "Flight Characteristics and Stain Patterns of Human Blood" by the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice" DOJ. Any time somebody is leaking, blood patterns can very well be an important issue.
Hard to find these items, but they are out there.
The head officer who is ramroding this case, needs to be an iron fisted autocrat, in terms of case control, otherwise it'll go south on him.
As I intimated, there will ALWAYS be somebody in the loop, or with potential access, that could be a hindrance. Try to envision, the difference between a conscious incompetent, versus an unconscious incompetent. One doesn't know he doesn't know....he could therefore, fornicate-up the case 6-ways from Sunday, or atleast screw up the process. The "tell", is that the latter is only available for credit, NEVER blame.
Whereas, the former knows he doesn't know anything, and will be satisfied being a prop in proximity.
So endeth this epistle....loren