Interview with a Crime Scene Specialist

euclid

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That's all good, Mark.

I have a couple of questions that you might ask (if still in contact with Stacy):

1. Are police officers' fingerprints routinely held on file for elimination purposes?
2. Ditto DNA
3. Describe the clothes a CSS wears at the scene
4. It a SOCO (Scene of Crime Officer) the same thing?
 

MarkEsq

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That's all good, Mark.

I have a couple of questions that you might ask (if still in contact with Stacy):

1. Are police officers' fingerprints routinely held on file for elimination purposes?
2. Ditto DNA
3. Describe the clothes a CSS wears at the scene
4. It a SOCO (Scene of Crime Officer) the same thing?

I can answer three of those, and I'll check with her on the other:

1. Yes, all police officers are fingerprinted upon employment (as are most county / city employees), so they can be compared if necessary. Or they will show up if a print is run through AFIS.
2. No. If, in a specific case, there is suspicion that an officer's DNA is contaominating or confusing a scene, then the officer will offer or be asked to give his/her DNA to exclude him/her.
3. I'll check. :)
4. Yes indeed.

ETA: If anyone has specific questions for a homicide detective, I'm putting together some for an interview in the next couple of days. Either post them here or PM me.
 
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euclid

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Questions for Homicide detective:

1. Do detectives really work in pairs (as on TV)?
2. Do they use their own cars?
3. If they use (unmarked) Department cars, do they take them home at night (when off duty) and can they use them as family cars when off duty/on vacation?
4. Do they keep guns in the boot (trunk)?
5. If they do, are these guns held in the trunk overnight?
6. Are these guns still held in the trunk if/when the cars are being use to collect the groceries? Maybe in with the spare tyre?
7. I'm assuming these unmarked cars (whether owned by the men or the department) have shortwave radios and sirens installed and detachable blue lights. Is that correct?
8. Is there an exam for a uniformed/beat officer to become a detective?
9. Are detectives paid more than uniformed/beat officers?
10. Are homicide detectives distinct from other detectives? Training? Pay?
11. Are there names for other types of detectives? B&E specialists, maybe? Sex crime specialists? Organized crime specialists?
12. Do detectives wear their own clothes?
13. If so, is there a standard level/style of clothing?
14. Do they have a clothing allowance, maybe?
 

RJK

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Euclid,
The answer to each of your questions depends on what department they work for.
In Gretna, LA, even uniformed officers take marked vehicles home, and yes, they grocery shop with the family, in them. (Not a good idea in my opinion, but not my call.)
Guns left in any police vehicle would be locked in a special bracket or lock-box.
With today's radio technology, detectives would carry hand-held radios and only need a charger in the car.
The larger the police department, the more specialized they can become. A detective on a smaller department would handle all felonies. (They usually have a separate narcotics division).
Some jurisdictions require exams for detectives, some don't.
Policing in the U.S. is a local operation, each municipality has its own rules and ways of doing things. Collective employment contracts also have their part in some of your questions.
 

euclid

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Thanks for those answers, RJ.

Is there a name for these hand-held radios?
Are these still called walkie-talkies?
Or is this terminology way out of date?
Do they work in pairs?
Are they paid more than uniforms?
 

BradyH1861

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(I can answer based on how my agency does things (note this may not and probably is not the same everywhere)

1. Do detectives really work in pairs (as on TV)? We work with a partner.

2. Do they use their own cars? Absolutely not!

3. If they use (unmarked) Department cars, do they take them home at night (when off duty) and can they use them as family cars when off duty/on vacation? We can, provided that we do not travel out of the county that my city is located in. The reason for this is that if we are on call, we have to respond to call outs quickly.

4. Do they keep guns in the boot (trunk)? No, we carry them.

5. If they do, are these guns held in the trunk overnight?Guns go inside the house at night.

6. Are these guns still held in the trunk if/when the cars are being use to collect the groceries? Maybe in with the spare tyre?

7. I'm assuming these unmarked cars (whether owned by the men or the department) have shortwave radios and sirens installed and detachable blue lights. Is that correct? Yes. Mine has all the above except a detachable light. I have lights that are mounted inside the car up around the visors.

8. Is there an exam for a uniformed/beat officer to become a detective? Not where I am. It depends on training, education, and experience.

9. Are detectives paid more than uniformed/beat officers? Yes.

10. Are homicide detectives distinct from other detectives? Training? Pay?Not in my department, but in some places they might be.

11. Are there names for other types of detectives? B&E specialists, maybe? Sex crime specialists? Organized crime specialists? Yes. We have Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Property, Auto Crimes, and Arson where I am.

12. Do detectives wear their own clothes? We do here.

13. If so, is there a standard level/style of clothing? During "Work Hours" we are required to wear a shirt and tie. When we get called out after hours to work a scene, we can pretty much wear what we want as long as it isn't shorts. (I usually wear blue jeans and a department T-Shirt.)

14. Do they have a clothing allowance, maybe? We don't, but I know of a department nearby that does.
 

euclid

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What happened to your interview with a homicide detective?
I checked your blog but couldn't see it.
Thanks
 

MarkEsq

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Believe it or not, he's still waiting for clearance from above.

Although tomorrow I have an interview with a district court judge, the same judge who presided over the infamous Yogurt Shop murder cases, which was just featured on 48 hours this past weekend.