Guyana Police Force Academy

Criminal Investigation Department

NAME: LEON DAVID

RANK: DETECTIVE CONSTABLE
REGULATION NUMBER: 19615
REGION 4 ‘A’
Initial Action at a Crime
Scene

Instructor: Sgt 22673 Noel

 Learning Objectives
• Understand the primary duties of a first responder
to a crime scene.

• Articulate when loss or destruction of evidence at

a crime scene is acceptable.

• Understand multi-level containment.

• Understand crime scene security.

 Activity
• You are the Officer in charge at the Timehri
Police Station when u receive a call of an
aircraft accident.

• What do you do?

Large Scenes – Possible Multi Injures /Bodies
 You are the senior Officer at the Brickdam Police
Station when u receive a call informing you of a riot
and major fire at the Prison.
You are the O/C at Mahaicony Police Station
when u receive a call informing you of a mass
murder/Suicide at a nearby cult.
What do you do?
 First Responder
• A person who is among those responsible for
going immediately to the scene of an accident
or emergency to provide assistance.

• Such as a police officer or EMT

 First Responder

Most likely to be:

• Patrol/General Duty officers
• Firefighters
• Emergency medical personnel

They Play a critical role in the investigation. Why??

 Approaching the Scene

• Mission: To arrive safely to ensure the safety of

whomever is calling for the police response.
 Actions of the First Responder upon
Arrival
Maximize the safety of the scene.

• Remain observant for any persons, vehicles, possible

evidence and overall conditions of the scene.
• The officer should approach the scene that will reduce
the risk of harm to him/herself, while maximizing the
safety of potential, witnesses, etc.
 Actions of the First Responder upon
Arrival
Guide medical personnel to the injured and preserve the
scene.

• Officers should use an indirect pathway to reduce

scene alteration and contamination.
 What is a Crime Scene?

A “crime scene” is a location where an

illegal act took place or a location where
evidence of an illegal act can be found.
 Actions of the First Responder upon
Arrival (continued)
• The indirect pathway should be used by both arriving
medical personnel and investigative personnel.

• Officers should point out to medical personnel

potential evidence in the proximity of the victim to
minimize contact with the evidence.

• Example: cutting around bullet holes or stab markings

in the clothing.
 Actions of the First Responder upon
Arrival (continued)

• Mechanical loss: evidence is lost through the efforts

of saving a life.

• This is an acceptable loss of evidence.

Deceased back area lower torso
VISIBLE AT THE SCENE

THESE STAINS AND MORE WERE

CREATED AFTER BODY REMOVAL
 Actions of the First Responder upon
Arrival (continued)
• The scene must be protected until all physical
evidence has been documented and collected.

• The first officer on the scene must attempt to “freeze”

the scene.
 Actions of the First Responder upon
Arrival (continued)
• No one is allowed to needlessly move around or alter
the scene.

• Witnesses, victims, and suspects should all be

isolated and removed from the scene.
ATTEMPT HOMICIDE or ACCIDENTAL ????
 Pooling and
Transfer

Spatter
 Crime Scene Scope and Perimeters

• The officer must first identify the scope of the scene.

• Once the boundaries have been identified, a perimeter

should be established.
 Crime Scene Scope and Perimeters

• The most common way to set up a perimeter is

stringing crime scene barrier tape around the defined
area.

• A defined physical perimeter will ensure that there is

no mistaking what is and what is not a crime scene.
 Crime Scene Scope and Perimeters
(continued)
• The area of the defined crime scene is always subject
to modification.

• It is better to over-define an area rather than

underestimate.
 Crime Scene Scope and Perimeters
(continued)
• Multi-level containment: utilizes several perimeters
and is the most effective for ensuring integrity.

• There are three levels of containment.

 Levels of Containment

• The outer perimeter is the first level of containment

• Area for media personnel and the general public.

• This creates good will and cooperation between the

reporters and law enforcement.
 Levels of Containment

• Inside of the outer perimeter, adjacent to the actual

crime scene is the second level of containment.

• This area is only to be accessed by police and

emergency personnel.

• This area holds the command post

 Levels of Containment

• Command post: established to coordinate on scene

activities and efforts, sometimes called the “incident
command”.

• Supervisory decisions are made at this point.

• Processing personnel use this area for their equipment

as well.
 Levels of Containment (continued)
• The perimeter that defines the specific crime scene
target area is the third level of containment.

• Strictest level of access and control, only entered by

those actively involved in processing the scene.
 Levels of Containment (continued)

Figure 4-3: An example of utilizing multi-level containment for securing a crime scene perimeter
Adapted from “Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation” by Ross M.
Gardner (2004). Courtesy of Ellie Bruchez, University of Wisconsin- Platteville.
Multi Level
Containment
 Exclusion of Official Visitors

• Difficult to prevent/prohibit “official sightseers”.

• Every attempt should be made to exclude other
officers, superiors or government officials.
 Exclusion of Official Visitors Cont’d

• Every person that enters the crime scene is a potential

destroyer of physical evidence, even if it is
unintentional.
• Explain the potential consequences of disturbing the
scene.
 Identification and Protection of Transient
Evidence
• It is crucial to quickly identify, collect and preserve
transient evidence both on the suspect and at the
crime scene. How?

• Transient evidence: physical evidence present at the

crime scene that is either fragile or at a great risk for
loss, alteration or destruction if not properly
identified, documented, collected and preserved as
soon as possible.
 Initial Scene Documentation

• A log should be established by the first responder to

log all personnel who enter and leave the scene.

• It is important that the first responder records an

accurate arrival time and when the scene was secured.
 Initial Scene Documentation

• Initial documentation sets the foundation for later

documentation efforts.
 Scenes Involving Death

• If the first responder can establish that a person is

dead, through visible signs, rigor mortis, odor,
lividity, etc. then the body should not be touched.

• Supervisors should be informed after establishing the

victim is dead.
 Scenes Involving Death

• The medical examiner or coroner is contacted next.

The coroner is a government or judicial official who is
empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the
manner or cause of death. The official may also
investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person
who has been found dead within the coroner's jurisdiction.

• Situations involving strangulation or hanging, the

officer should do nothing to the body, unless signs of
life are present.
 Scenes Involving Firearms and
Ammunition
• Firearms and ammunition at a scene should remain in
situ (as they are).

• Sometimes for safety and security reasons it is

necessary to recover and secure the weapons.
 Scenes Involving Firearms and
Ammunition
• If a weapon is to be collected, its collection should be
made in such a way to minimize potential destruction
of evidence.

• Nothing should be inserted into the bore of a firearm.

• Note position of weapon, photograph if there is time
• Do not move firearms to an excessively hot area.
 Dealing with Media

• The first responder should not provide the media with

information concerning the case.

• This duty falls to the Commissioner of Police, Crime

Chief, Regional Commander and Public Relation
officer/C.C.U .
 Dealing with Media

• It is important that the officer behave professionally

when the media personnel is present.

• The officer must remember that the media personnel

often provide invaluable assistance.
 Crime Scene “Do Nots”

• Eating.
• Drinking.
• Smoking.
• Using landlines (telephone, computer, etc.).
• Use a radio or cell phone.
• Use the bathroom present within the scene.
Do Not
Do Not
 The First Response Overview

1. Initial response/receipt of information.

2. Safety procedures.
3. Emergency care.
4. Secure and control persons at the scene.
5. Boundaries: identify, establish, protect and secure.
6. Turn over the scene and brief investigator(s) in
charge.
7. Document actions and observations.