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SECTION: 613 CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS

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SECTION: 613

TITLE:     CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS

EFFECTIVE DATE:  February 15, 2017

 

 

 

PURPOSE

                                                                                                                            

This policy establishes procedures for preliminary and follow-up investigations.

 

POLICY

 

It shall be the policy of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Department to attempt to solve all crimes reported to the Department. The majority of all preliminary investigations shall be conducted by deputies in the Patrol Division. Follow-up investigation shall be conducted on any case which may be brought to a successful conclusion. Additionally, all follow-up investigations of felony crimes are handled by the Criminal Investigation Division. It shall be the Department's philosophy that, even though a crime is a misdemeanor, it is important and follow-up action shall be taken, when possible. With this in mind, the deputy who conducts a preliminary investigation on a misdemeanor crime shall conduct follow-up in an effort to bring the case to a successful conclusion.

 

PROCEDURE

 

Preliminary Investigation - Deputy's Responsibility

 

  1. Provide aid to the injured

 

  1. Protecting the crime scene to ensure that evidence is not lost or contaminated.

 

  1. Determining the identity of suspect(s) and affecting the arrest either at the scene or through immediate pursuit.

 

  1. Furnishing other field units with description, method, direction of flight and other necessary information related to the investigation.

 

  1. Obtain a complete written statement from all witnesses and victims.

 

  1. Collection of evidence.

 

  1. Determining if a criminal investigator is needed.

 

  1. Completion of all paperwork pertaining to said investigation in a timely fashion.

 

  1. Completion of the complaint before the end of shift.

 

VICTIM CONTACT FOLLOW-UP

 

When an investigation is lacking information for the necessary follow-up investigation, the Sheriff will designate a representative of the Department to complete victim contact. The goal set forth in utilizing the victim contact follow-up is to:

 

  1. Seek additional information not available at the time the criminal act was reported.

 

  1. Seek witnesses that may not have been available or accessible at the time the criminal act was reported.

 

  1. Close or suspend cases where there are no additional factors to support additional follow-up. This will also allow the victims of criminal activity to have closure on their case.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTING

 

Deputies obtaining information from a victim, witness or defendant which was not previously reported to the filing deputy, shall obtain the reported information being provided and complete a supplemental report under the original complaint number of the case. All other paperwork such as statements and evidence shall be completed and processed as previously described. Supplemental reports shall be treated as any other report and shall be turned in to the deputy's supervisor for review and processing. No deputy shall advise a complainant / victim or witness that they need to see the original reporting deputy to provide additional information to a case.

 

 

EXTRA PATROL

 

When a citizen or business requests extra patrol, the following process shall be followed:

 

  1. The Communications Officer shall obtain the callers information and reason for extra patrol.

 

  1. A deputy shall be dispatched to the location and shall respond to the extra patrol request according to the priority of calls.

 

  1. After the initial response by a patrol unit, deputies shall make their best effort to provide patrol for the requesting citizen as often as possible to support their request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In regards to: All Rules, Regulations, Policy & Procedures and Special Orders are at the discretion of the Sheriff based on departmental need and the severity of the infraction.