Documenting

USING  YOUR NOTEBOOK TO DOCUMENT      

Notes should be made documented in chronological order.  By chronological I mean in the order that the events occurred.

For example; 0200 hours I found the door to suite 359 damaged and open,  0205 hours I called 911 and notified my dispatcher and the initiated my crime scene protection procedures, 0230 hours the police arrived and so forth.

Here are a some of the other entries you will need to document:

  • EXACT LOCATION
  • DATE AND TIME
  • TYPE OF CRIME
  • DESCRIPTION
  • TOOK PICTURES
  • ACCURATE SKETCHES
  • WHAT YOU FOUND

 

  • Exact location
  • Date and time you discovered the crime scene
  • Type of crime. Was it a burglary, a homicide, rape, and so forth? Description of the crime scene. If you took pictures or video, note the times
  • If you don’t have a cellphone with a camera make sketches as accurate as you can and include the locations where you found the weapon. a burglary tool or other suspected evidence.

 

  • Date and time you reported to the police and your dispatcher
  • Name of the first police officer who arrived at the crime scene
  • The names of anyone  who entered the crime scene before the police arrived.
  • Who was at the crime scene when you got there?

 

YOUR NOTES    

Notes should be complete, thorough clear and legible

 

MAKE AN INCIDENT REPORT

The last step you are required to do is make an incident report. Make the number of copies that your company requires.

 

REPORT NARRATIVE     

Your incident report narrative should read:

“At the above time and date I discovered that someone had broNarrator into the above location.  I observed its door half open; I could see that the office was ransacked.”

“I visually checked the crime scene from the open door for injured victims, with negative results.  I took detailed notes and initiated a crime scene protection procedure.”

“From outside the crime scene through the door I took photos using my cell phone camera. All photos and notebook information have been turned over to the above police officer.”

If you are called upon months later to testify, your notes and that incident report will help refresh your memory.

 

NEVER DISCUSS THE FACTS

26:14 Narrator You should only discuss the facts regarding the crime or the crime scene with the police, your company supervisor or manager. Never discuss the case with witness, the suspect or bystanders.

 

THE PRESS

Never, never discuss the facts with the press.

Because the press use scanners to monitor police activity they often get to the crime scene before the police.

Don’t let the press bully you into giving a statement or allow them into the crime scene.  That’s the quickest way to lose your job. Let the police, your supervisor or your company management talk to the press.

It is not uncommon for the press to monitor security company two way radio communications as well.

If you are assigned a company two way radio, make the notification by telephone.

 

REMEMBER THE RULES

  • CONTAINMENT
  • PRESERVE EVIDENCE
  • BE ALERT
  • DOCUMENT
  • KEEP BYSTANDERS AWAY
  • PHOTOGRAPH WITH CELL PHONE IF YOU CAN
  • DON’T DISCUSS THE FACTS WITH ANYONE BUT THE POLICE
  • STAY SAFE

When you follow these crime scene procedures and they will be a tremendous help to the police, the crime scene technician and the prosecutor.