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Careers: Police/Question from an author

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Expert: - 4/28/2007


Question
Mr. Toomey:

I am writing a fictional story about a detective who lives in a dystopian world
in the year 2083. In the story, the detective investigates for four days without
a formal report of any kind and two murders occur when he is the only one
near the victims. Would his superiors begin to suspect him? What would most
likely happen if this were to occur in our world today? Thank you so much for
your time and for volunteering to educate us ignorant people.

Answer
  I really don't know what his superiors would believe.  But first you are asking me a question about something that is going to happen eighty years from now.  If your scenario happened today it would be unrealistic.  First of all there would never only be one detective and several superior(s).  That would be a little top heavy.  If this is a city department of a large county department there would be an entire homicide section investigating these murders.  But if this mysterious detective was with the victims at the time of their deaths of course he would be suspected.  It woulld not take a "superior" to figure that out.  But again there is no way that I can tell you what "superiors" would do in the year 2083.

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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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