Chapter 3 - Actions of the Initial Responding Officer

Question 1

What are the two primary goals of the initial responding officer when reacting to any critical incident?

Answer 1

·bring site under control

·coordinate resources

Question 2

There are five basic objectives the author uses to achieve these goals. Identify and briefly discuss each one.

Answer 2

·document the provided info
·not become a casualty
·provide for emergency care
·secure and control the scene and all those within it
·release the scene top the appropriate authorities (Det/CSI)

Question 3

How might a failure to verify the address of a crime scene negatively impact the investigator?

Answer 3

If/when a search warrant is needed/obtained.

Question 4

With regard to evidence preservation in emergency care, what is the overriding rule for the responding officer?

Answer 4

Lifesaving always takes priority over evidence preservation.

Question 5

When is it appropriate to slow or stop EMS from entering a crime scene?

Answer 5

When there is an obvious death and the injured person is beyond medical help.

Question 6

If tasked to accompany a victim to the hospital, what is the officer concerned with?

Answer 6

Dying declaration, collecting items of evidence or personal belongings of the victim.

Question 7

When confronted with numerous individuals at a crime scene who did not appear to be directly involved, what should the officer consider before chasing them off?

Answer 7

Are there any witnesses, suspects or additional victims within the crowd.

Question 8

The area contained within the initial responding officers crime scene barrier should include three things. Identify and briefly describe each.

Answer 8

·primary focal points
·natural entry and exit points
·secondary scenes

Question 9

How might a natural or man-made barrier (a row of trees or roadway) in the crime scene negatively affect what an officer includes in his or her initial crime scene boundary?

Answer 9

If the officer assumes involved people didn’t cross a certain area (small stream, prickly bushes, etc), and then put the boundary there, it might exclude items of evidence or secondary scenes.

Question 10

What is the purpose of a crime scene entry log, and when is it put in place?

Answer 10

To document who enters the crime scene and why. It is put into pace after the boundary’s have been established and am entrance/exit has been established.

Question 11

During the onscene debriefing between the initial responding officer and the crime scene team, what information should be provided to the team?

Answer 11

Brief the investigative team in all aspects of what he or she knows, what he or she found, and what he or she did upon arrival.