Expert: Jack Toomey - 6/3/2011

Question
Unlike the highly entertaining but totally unrealistic storylines shown on television, I am writing a mystery novel and am trying to be as accurate as possible.    I'm hoping you can help with a few questions.

The victim in the novel is an elderly gentleman. His body is discovered lying on the floor of a study.  The home is owned by an affluent couple who are old friends of the diseased.   The victim has a head wound and there has been a considerable loss of blood. Because he has a history of heart disease, the assumption is that he had a heart attack, lost his balance, struck his head on the fireplace mantel, and fell to the floor.  There were no witnesses. This may or may not be helpful to you, but the novel takes place in Newport, Rhode Island.

Questions

1. Would the first responder to a 911 call be an ambulance, a patrol officer, or both?  
2. Would the medical examiner be called because the death occurred in a private home?  
3. If the death is initially assumed to be the result of a medical issue, would a detective be called to the scene?  
4. Do smaller police departments (such as Newport RI) have detectives or does the patrol officer serve this function?   
5. Would the patrol officer and/or detective(s) interview everyone on the premises (the death occurs while a large outdoor party is underway) or just the homeowners and/or the person who discovered the body?  
6. Would these persons be interviewed together or would they be separated from one another?
7. Would they be taken to the station to give a formal statement or interviewed at the home?   
8. Would an autopsy automatically be conducted to determine the cause of death?  

Thank you so much.   Looking forward to your reply.

Answer
Lynn,

At least you have the sense to not believe things that you see on television when it comes to police work. NOTHING that you see is realistic.

1.  Both - the 911 center would dispatch the fire department and pass the call over to the police who would dispatch at least one officer, maybe more.

2.  definitely.  in most states the medical examiner must be called in unattended deaths.

3.  yes. detectives investigate all deaths whether they be homicides or natural.

4.  sorry cannot help you with that because I don't know how big Newport PD is.  if its small then they would have a working agreement with the county or state police to handle the more serious investigations.  But didn't they handle that Kennedy kin murder case some years ago?

5.  everyone that they can find.

6.  no one is ever interviewed together, never.  they would interviewed separately.

7.  it depends on how many there are and what part they had to play.



Thanks!  It would have been sooner but I was mowing the property.  If you need any more help with your novel let me know.
8.  yes.  in a case like this the law would dictate it.