Author Rob Holden, The Readers Room Editor, posed the subject for my May 15th 2004 column. He says: "I would LOVE a column about the 'assumptions' made by cops that lead to a suspect. The police 'know' who committed the crime, but are unable to prove their case."
Ah-h-h-h, we have reached the place where TV and books form the public's idea of what goes on in a criminal investigation -- or as they say in the movies "take dramatic license with reality." Holmes, Sipowicz, Kojak and Columbo are some fantasy investigators who come to mind. Each serve their purpose for dramatic thrills and suspense but have divergent methods.
At my first Mystery Writers of America dinner meeting the speaker was William Harrington, the former defense attorney and author of Volume 4 of the six-volume Columbo series for Forge. Here, I paraphrase the 3/96 MWA-NY Noose newsletter. At "a lively and provocative Harrington Q&A… [Dennis J.] Jim McGowan, Rockland City detective (ret.) and soon-to-be MWA member asked, ''Did you realize Columbo's reasoning was inductive rather than deductive?"
Investigative reasoning is can be inductive, deductive or both. The character of Columbo felt "in his gut" that a suspect was guilty. To prove his "assumptions," Columbo built a circumstantial case to fit this individual. Along with the "coincidence of fantasy" the hero detective is lead to his chosen killer. His opposite, Kojak used physical evidence and eyewitnesses, finding his suspect through "deduction" from physical clues provided at the crime scene -- a.k.a. deductive reasoning.
In real-life investigations law enforcement officers are assigned to a crime scene at random. At any police academy these officers are taught NOT to assume or overanalyze a situation. A trained officer should arrive on a scene with no preformed ''assumptions.'' Officers are taught to investigate a crime through observation of what is present at the time. This is called physical evidence.
To specify, a dead body has been found. Detectives have been sent to the scene. They arrive at the crime scene and make note of the physical evidence in front of them.
Where was this body found?
Home, workplace, motel, bar?
Kitchen, factory floor, bed, ladies room?
Maybe the Hudson River at Spyken-Divel where the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean and the fresh water of the upper river converge?
How the individual was murdered sometimes can be immediately determined. A knife sticking out of the individual, a gunshot wound to the heart, possibly someone bludgeoned about the head. In other cases, the assistance of the medical examiner is needed, as in the case of poison or suffocation.
How long has the body been in this location?
What is the likelihood of suicide in this case?
Did the victim usually take unnecessary chances, put him/herself in precarious situations in frequent unsavory areas or associate with known criminals?
Many hours are put into running down leads as quickly as possible. The detectives probe locations and persons associated in any way with the victim. The detectives interview family, friends, coworkers, vendors, and service people; anyone with whom the victim had frequent or even occasional contact. The gourmet butcher only saw the victim once a month, as did the gasman, though the manicurist saw the individual once a week. The partner saw the victim each day. These interviewees' backgrounds are detailed. They will either be eliminated from the investigation or more information will be obtained until the investigators connect the dots and close the investigation.
During the investigation to ease the tensions, detectives do speculate on who might have committed the homicide. Sometime they are correct, but the compiled evidence will lead to a suspect. The investigation of a crime scene is a matter of police procedure.
Play it safe!
Dennis J. McGowan
Authors! Don't hesitate. Now is the time to send your questions to ReadersRoom2@aol.com. or
www.dennisjmcgowan.com
Copyright 2004 by
ReadersRoom, LLC. All rights reserved.
