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Careers: Police/Police procedure following suicide

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Expert: - 12/23/2008


Question
Hi, Jack.  Like many of the others on this site, I'm a writer.  I'm working on a
scene where a character is found dead in a situation that appears to be a
suicide (slit his wrists in a hotel room at a class reunion weekend).  My
understanding is that the police would treat it as a homicide until proven
otherwise, but is it right to assume they would want to question everyone
who'd last seen the dead man?  And, if so, would they put any restrictions on
any of these "witnesses" leaving once they've been questioned?  Thanks so
much for your help -- I really appreciate it!  Best, Jennifer

Answer
Jennifer,

  Let me point out a few points that you might reconsider when writing your book.  

  Men very infrequently cut their wrists.  It is almost always seen in women and in fact most "slit wrist" cases are sympathetic attempts where the "victim" really does not intend to commit suicide.  Men shoot themselves, jump out of windows, hang themselves, put exahust pipes in their car windows, but they don't cut their wrists.

  But lets say that your man did cut his wrists.  In all of my years I have never heard of a homicide where someone had his/her wrists cut by another person.  So it would be pretty obvious to the investigators that it was a suicide and not a homicide.  You are correct by assuming that the police treat all deaths as homicides unles they can prove otherwise but in reality that thinking does not last long in the case of an obviuos suicide.  

  The police would probably try to contact people who last saw the victim but they have no right to hold them or put any restrictions on them.  That is classic tv and does not happen in real life.

  Let me know if any of this is not clear.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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