Patrol and Investigation Duties Flashcards

What does 'chain of custody' refer to in an investigation?

Answer: The documented handling and control of evidence from collection to court

Chain of custody is the chronological documentation showing who handled evidence and when, preserving its integrity.

During a traffic stop, why does an officer often position the patrol car at an angle behind the stopped vehicle?

Answer: To create a safety zone and protection from passing traffic

An offset position shields the officer from oncoming traffic and provides a measure of cover.

When canvassing a neighborhood after a crime, an investigator is primarily trying to do what?

Answer: Locate witnesses and gather information

A neighborhood canvass seeks witnesses and information that can advance the investigation.

What is the value of taking detailed notes immediately at a scene rather than later?

Answer: Memory fades and details are most accurate when recorded promptly

Prompt note-taking captures accurate details before memory degrades.

An officer sees two individuals quickly walk away upon noticing the patrol car. This behavior is best described as what?

Answer: One factor that may contribute to reasonable suspicion

Evasive behavior is one factor among the totality of circumstances that can build reasonable suspicion, but is not proof of crime by itself.

What is the purpose of a 'BOLO' broadcast?

Answer: To alert officers to 'Be On the Lookout' for a person or vehicle

A BOLO alerts officers to watch for a specific suspect, vehicle, or item of interest.

When interviewing a cooperative witness, an effective technique is to:

Answer: Use open-ended questions and let the witness recount events freely

Open-ended questions allow witnesses to provide fuller, less-suggested accounts of what they observed.