1 Day- Investigating Today’s Street Homicides

This 8 hour course is specifically designed to prepare uniformed police officers, supervisors, detectives, gang and drug investigators to successfully respond, evaluate, secure, and investigate today’s violent street crime related homicides.  Blocks of instruction will include:

Handling uncooperative witnesses:   We will discuss a number of effective strategies in handling witnesses in gang and drug related homicides and how to successfully utilize these strategies and procedures when conducting the most difficult of all homicide investigations.  Handling witnesses in these cases are the responsibility of everyone involved.

This block of instruction will also focus on the responsibilities of the first Officer on scene to the most experienced of Detectives.  The instructor will help prepare you to effectively handle this crucial part of the investigation that is often passed from one division to another.

Handling homicide scenes in gang and drug war zones: This block of instruction discusses many variables that contribute to the successful response, investigation, and conclusion of street homicides.  The quality of work and experience of the responding Officers and the investigating Detectives are critiqued during these crucial stages of the homicide that stem from the crime scene.  We will also discuss the importance of how each agency should develop clear and separate policies and protocol for all the officers and detectives involved.

• Types of Gang and Drug Homicide Scenes
• Homicide Scene Considerations
• Officer Safety
• Securing the scene
• Handling witnesses/Canvassing
• Identifying and handling evidence
• Videotaping scenes and crowds

Interview and Interrogation techniques of hard-core and street smart suspects in Homicides:  During this block of instruction the instructor will discuss the important aspects of getting difficult but voluntary statements.  There will be classroom discussion and videotaped interrogations shown.  Topics include:

• Interviewer Preparation
• Gang/ Interviewing Experience
• Homicide Case Preparation and legal aspects
• Mental/ Physical State of the interrogator and suspect
• Physical and verbal considerations
• Videotaping interviews
• Choosing the right interview technique         

Background gang Intel. on suspects and witnesses:  In this block the instructor will discuss how to utilize various channels to generate information files on the victim and possible suspects involved.  This will assist Officers, Investigators and Homicide Detectives in establishing motives, identifying possible suspects, identifying others who were also present and involved, locating evidence, and other details surrounding the homicide.

Gang and Drug Operations- generating homicide Intel:  Conducting additional gang suppression operations and street level drug investigations after a homicide have proven to be extremely successful.  This block will provide case examples of how gang operations can generate new information, verify and corroborate particular facts and statements, and locate other witnesses and suspects in a homicide.  Case examples will be given when witnesses are willing to cooperate and provide information to help themselves when arrested, while others may be more inclined to cooperate when one or more suspects have already been arrested in connection to the homicide.

Gangs on the web-tracking a murderer: We will discuss how gangbanging on the internet has become common today and how it continues to grow at an alarming rate.  We will focus on how to successfully track and document street gangs, hybrid gangs, gang/ drug operations as they:  broaden their social network, brag of illegal exploits, recruit new members, threaten their enemies and commit more street crimes.  We will then discuss how to utilize this information to generate leads that will help solve difficult homicides.

Examples will be given on today’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Critical tracking operations with Cellular telephones in gang Homicides  In this block of instruction we will discuss specific case examples in tracking suspect and victim cell phones, how to effectively secure crucial evidence, and utilize that evidence in establishing motive and additional intel:

• Understanding Exigent Circumstances
• Reconstruct the homicide
• Utilizing a Crime Analyst or Intel Officer
• How to accurately request and work with cell phone providers

Working with Confidential Informants in Homicides:  We will discuss how to successfully gain and maintain confidential informants when investigating gang homicides.

• Creating and managing active CI files
• Consulting with prosecutors
• Establishing CI’s motive and credibility
• Establish your purpose for the CI in your homicide
• Properly utilizing a potential CI in an effective and safe fashion

Case preparation for trial:  This block will discuss how to effectively prepare for your homicide trial in and outside the courtroom.  We will focus on today’s issues with defense attorneys, prosecutors, reluctant witnesses, and gang retaliations.