The Investigative Process

1. The Investigative Process Detective Commander Daniel J. Buenz

2. Elmhurst police department detective division • 6 general assignment Detectives. • 3 School Resource Officers. • 1 Detective assigned to DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DUMEG). • 1 Investigative Assistant / Intelligence and Crime Analyst. • 1 civilian Evidence Technician / Property Custodian. • 1 part-time Background Investigator.

3. INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES • Death Investigations • Violent Crimes • Sex Offenses • Residential / Commercial Burglary • Financial Fraud / Computer Crimes • Auto Theft / Burglary to Motor Vehicle • Vice Intelligence / Narcotics • Quality of Life Investigations • Theft, Criminal Damage, TX Harassment, ID theft...

4. division Specialties • Licensed polygraph examiner • Extensive training in Interview and Interrogation • Statement Analysis • Certified juvenile officers • Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T.) • Crime analysis and linkage capabilities

5. Specialties (Cont.) • Extensive informational databases • Covert surveillance equipment • Certified Overhear Examiners • Certified Forensic Computer Examiners • Hostage negotiators • ERT team members • DuPage Major Crimes Task Force

6. Technological Advancements • Automated Fingerprint I.D. System (AFIS) • DNA Comparison • Facial Recognition • Covert surveillance equipment • GPS Systems (Including Cell TX technology) • E-FIT (Cognitive interview) • Forensic Advances (Medicolegal and Evidential) • Criminal Personality Profiling

7. Criminal investigations • Identify the guilty • Eliminate the innocent suspect from further scrutiny • Are, more than ever, Regional and National • Solve reported, unreported and undetected crimes (and cold cases) • Instill confidence in the Citizens we serve

8. What are criminal investigations? • Identification of the offender(s) after the fact • Accomplished via inductive and deductive process • Are a blend of Art and Science • Can be long, or short term; Reactive or Proactive • Utilize a specialized branch of science germane to the field of criminal justice forensics • CSI Effect on Law Enforcement and the Courts

9. Case assignment • Elmhurst Police Department detectives conduct approximately 700 investigations annually. • Criminal, Background (personnel, Liquor license…) Asset Forfeiture • Cases are assigned utilizing solvability factors. • Suspects? • Witnesses? • Evidence? • Crime pattern?

10. Case assignment • Solvability rates of crimes vary • Homicides and financial crime have higher clearance rates, Burglary has lower rates, etc. • Community Oriented Police Unit partners • Case Assignment criteria systems • The Elmhurst approach

11. How are crimes linked? By area, offense, victim group, offender group, time, modus operandi (method of operation), significant suspect signature. • Phrases used • Method of entry • Items taken • Weapons used Linkage Blindness?

12. CRIME SCENE • Where did the crime occur? Is there more than one crime scene? • Scene integrity is crucial !!! • Evidence overlooked, contaminated, or compromised is lost…… Forever • Scientific and technological developments have proved invaluable to law enforcement • Ongoing or Cold Case Investigations

13. Initial phase • Thorough review of the reports submitted by patrol officers • Immediate attention to the case…trails grow cold • Possibly a visual inspection of the crime scene. • Search of databases and sources of information for similar incidents (Daily Intel reports, LEADS, MOCIC RissNet, Critical Reach, etc.) • Attempt to develop a suspect: • Motive, Means, Opportunity • The Crucial Art/Science of Interviewing

14. Basic assumptions • Offenders and victims of homicide are in some way __________. (Related) • Most residential burglaries occur during the _________ hours. (Daytime) • People, including criminals, are _________ of __________. (Creatures / Habit) • Most people who witness crimes are _______ to become involved. (Reluctant) • Most eye witness accounts will _________. (Differ)

15. Building the case • Linking the suspect to the crime. Accomplished through: • Admissions. • Physical Evidence. • Direct Evidence. • Circumstantial Evidence. • PEOPLE, EVIDENCE, RECORDS • To successfully prosecute a case there must be (Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt)

16. Successful case preparation • CREATIVITY…outside the box thinking • Meticulous documentation • Ability to separate relevant from extraneous information • Time management / multi-tasking abilities • Interviewing / interrogation skills • Legal knowledge

17. THE INVESTIGATION • You may very well know who committed a crime…however, proving it is another matter • May require surveillance and / or undercover operations • Overhear and wiretap orders • Search warrants and Grand Jury subpoenas. • Examination of records • Financial, phone, letters, journals, electronic communications

18. Eyewitness Identification • The on Scene “Show Up” • No witness warnings • The Photo Line Up • Photo Spread or Array • Witness warnings given • The Sequential Line Up • Witness warnings given • Double blind procedure

19. Solving the case • Most cases are solved through an accumulative process of facts, circumstances and evidence • Public involvement is critical in the investigative process • No information is insignificant • Fresh information is better than stale information

20. Case dispositions • Cleared by arrest • Adult or Juvenile • Exceptionally cleared • Open / Inactive • Denied Prosecution • Referred to other jurisdiction • Administratively closed