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Careers: Police/What would local police do when they question a potential witness/suspect
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Question
QUESTION: What would local police do when they question a potential witness/suspect and a few hours latter the FBI tells local police to stay away from him and to only question him with the presence of the FBI. The potential witness/suspect made a complained to the FBI and asked to speak to the local police.
ANSWER: Good Morning,
Well since the FBI are Federal Police and have the legal ability to take over any investigation that they feel falls under national involvement of some kind. They can take custody of a prisoner and then restrict who talks to them. So your description of what might occur is possible.
The local police if they felt it necessary could contact the local FBI office to get confirmation of the requirement and then if they felt they did not want this to happen, they could go before a local judge to get a court order, giving them access to or custody of the suspect. If they did that then the FBI could go to a Federal Judge and do the same thing to get him back. Its all in who has the higher authority and it rest with the FBI in this case.
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QUESTION: What would local police do when they question a potential witness/suspect and he request to have a meeting with a US attorney and gives the name of the specific US attorney and a meeting can be arranged the same day or next business day.
ANSWER: The local police would call that US Attorney and ask if the person asking was someone they wanted to talk to and they were not just throwing names out.
In addition if the person invoked his rights and refused to talk to the local police and said they would only talk to the US Attorney then it would happen quicker probably.
Hope that helps. Sorry for the delay I was out sick for a few days..
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: So if the local police calls that US Attorney and he wants to local police to meet him with the local police and the potential witness/suspect, than yes? Is that correct?
Good morning again,
If the local police call the US attorney's office and tell them that there is someone that wishes to speak to them, the US attorney, then the local US attorney would more than likely come to the Police Department and speak with that person. It has happened in the past and that's the way was usually done.
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Answers by Expert:
Chris Wagoner
Expertise
I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!
Experience
I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.
Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..
Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.
Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.
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