| Whenever a person dials 911 to report a crime, it is | | | | pose a threat. Whenever an offender is around, the |
| imperative that the first officer to arrive at the | | | | officer arrests and handcuffs the person. Afterwards, |
| scene detain the person making the call and forbid | | | | the officer helps out any victims who are around and |
| the individual from entering the crime scene. Anybody | | | | calls for paramedics if needed. After completing these |
| who calls in to report a crime may have been a | | | | tasks, the officer starts to preserve the crime scene. |
| witness to the incident or may have seen or heard | | | | In addition, the officer may need to detain any |
| something out of place. | | | | suspects and witnesses and separate them to avoid |
| However, because the officer has no way of | | | | collusion. Collusion occurs when the detainees "get |
| knowing if the person who dialed 911 to report a | | | | their stories straight" so that they all tell the same |
| crime is a witness or a suspect, allowing the individual | | | | thing to police. At this point, however, the officer |
| to access the scene of a crime can risk losing or | | | | may not know which is which. A witness may turn |
| contaminating the evidence. After all, an offender | | | | into a suspect, and a suspect may actually be a good |
| may: | | | | witness. Moreover, the officer may have no legal |
| - Believe that reporting an incident removes him from | | | | right to detain some witnesses and thus must jot |
| the focus of a subsequent investigation | | | | down the name and information from each person |
| - Try to destroy, move around, or remove evidence. | | | | who leaves the scene. |
| Either of these circumstances can occur. Therefore, it | | | | In the middle of any crime-scene preservation is a |
| is necessary that the first-arriving officer approach | | | | principle called Locard's Principle of Exchange. Locard's |
| the crime scene in an organized and logical manner. | | | | Principle of Exchange occurs when two individuals |
| This protects the evidence and other individuals who | | | | come into contact with one another and exchange |
| may be there. Otherwise, the safety of the officer, | | | | any trace materials such as hair, fingerprints, or fibers. |
| his fellow officers, witnesses, victims, suspects, and | | | | Any person who enters the crime scene can leave a |
| even the offender may be at risk. Not to mention, | | | | piece of evidence of their presence, remove crucial |
| evidence may be destroyed. | | | | trace evidence on their clothes, shoes, hands, or alter |
| The first-arriving officer who responds to a call of a | | | | any evidence that stays behind. Therefore, access to |
| crime must make his own personal safety his utmost | | | | the crime scene must be forbidden right away to all |
| concern and make sure that the offenders no longer | | | | witnesses and suspects. |