Expert: Jack Toomey - 4/13/2010

Question
I’m so sorry to bother you but I am doing research for a crime story (possible a series of crime stories)  that I’m writing and I’m not having any luck  (Getting frustrated now), I live in the middle of nowhere so I cant ask the local police force because they are not so local. I hope you can answer these questions:

1) Could you tell me in as much detail as possible what the proper police procedure is from start to finish when dealing with any homicide case? What happens? What is the 1st thing you do? What questions do you ask, etc?  

2) What is the procedure when dealing with a serial killer?

And finally if its not too much trouble:
In one of the story, cops that are all involved in a case are being slain one by one in their homes, after receiving anonymous threat’s to drop the case.  

3) Would this make a difference to how the case would be handled, if so could you please explain how?

I hope that all makes sense.
I really, really, sincerely appreciate all and any help, I know you must be busy.

Thanks, Mrs. Frustrated.

Answer
When you say "proper procedure" you are assuming that all cases are alike and that all police officers are robots.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  All cases are different thus cases are handled differently.  For instance in a case where a wife shot to death the obvious suspect is the husband.  But if it is a shooting and killing of a 7-11 clerk then its most likely a robber who is a stranger to the clerk.  So these two cases would be handled completely differently.


Generally though you would be safe to say that;

1.  someone has to report the crime and 99% of the time that happens with a phone call to the police.

2.  a uniformed officer responds and makes a determination about what has happened.

3.  the uniformed officers make every effort to save the life of the victim.

4.  the uniformed officer(s) protect the crime scene and if the victim is obviously dead they leave the premesis.  By leave I mean stand outside or far away from the body so as not to contaminate the scene.

5.  the detectives are notified as well as crime scene technicians.

6.  the detectives and crime scene technicians make a thorough inspection of the crime scene which could take days in some cases.

7.  the body is removed for autopsy.

8.  a detective or somebody attends the autopsy and seizes any evidence that is found in or on the body.

9.  one or a hundred and one interviews are conducted depending on the crime.

10.  hopefully the suspect is identified quickly and is arrested.

11.  suspect is interviewed

12.  evidence seized from the suspect, (hair, fingernail scrapings, pubic hair.


  In a case where a serial killer is involved a task force would be set up. Usually the cases cross county or even state lines so the task force would be made up of all the jurisdictions  involved.

  If the investigating detectives are being killed one by one then I'd assume that after the first one was killed that the rest would be moved to a hotel or somewhere along with their families.  I cannot conceive that more than one detective or officer would be killed without that happening.  You are going to have to do some creative writing here to make your readers believe that no one would be moved out of danger after one of their comrades was killed.

 If you have any questions please let me know.