Managing the scene and Working as a Team

Coroner Talk™ | Death Investigation Training | Police and Law Enforcement

Someone must oversee a crime scene. This means one person is directing all activity. This might not be a ranking member of a department, though. If no one takes charge, the scene is chaotic, and nothing is done correctly.

The investigator in charge should oversee the investigation and scene documentation. He or she should ensure proper chain of custody and documentation of evidence. They are in charge of maintaining scene integrity.

As with any crime scene, cooperation is critical among differing agencies. But with a death scene, this cooperation is ever more important and strained. Due to the increased severity of the scene, the spotlight, and egos, these scenes can quickly become a disaster. Therefore, teamwork is vital, and it is the lead investigator's role to set a tone of cooperation and teamwork.

One of the most significant issues in a major case is the failure to communicate information to those working on the case. Some agencies seem to want to keep what they know to themselves. This primarily occurs from egos and "turf wars," which will compromise an effective outcome.

Everyone involved in the investigation has information gathered from the jobs they were assigned, and a lack of communication or an unwillingness to share information discovered for evaluation can prevent the entire team from finding the truth and bringing the case to a conclusion. It's imperative to remember that the cases you work aren't about you, but are for the victim, the family, and, at times, the protection of society.

One of the most frustrating mistakes at a death scene is when command staff show up on the scene with their own agendas, which have nothing to do with the actual investigation.

Sometimes, it's for political appearance or simple curiosity. However, unless they are an actual part of the investigative team, they should not insert themselves into the investigation.

In many instances, because they're at the scene, command-ranking personnel feel the need to direct the investigation. Consequently, they will have investigators running in different directions, which have nothing to do with the primary investigation.

The result is the loss of cohesive and central command and major miscommunication Many times, in these situations no one is willing to step up, make decisions and take control for fear of making the boss mad. The chaos continues and the investigation is compromised. When the outcome is delayed or not favorable, the command personnel directly responsible for the chaos will not see that they were the cause, but rather, the blame may fall on the lead investigator.