CRIM INV ADMIN 13.1A
TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
TITLE: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ADMINISTRATION
GENERAL ORDER: 13.1B
EFFECTIVE: April 28, 2000
RESCINDS: Revises G.O. 13.1A
ACCREDITATION
STANDARDS: CFA 14.12, 18.01, 18.02
PAGES: 5
CONTENTS:
This order consists of the following numbered sections:
I. CASE MANAGEMENT
II. DETECTIVE ON-CALL PROCEDURES
III. TRAINING
IV GLOSSARY
PURPOSE:
To delineate responsibilities for criminal investigations and establish guidelines for the maintenance of case
files.
SCOPE:
This order applies to all Police Department members.
DISCUSSION:
A primary objective of the Police Department is to thoroughly investigate reports of criminal activity
occurring within its jurisdiction. While an effective criminal investigative process involves a coordinated effort among
many components, and is accomplished by both uniformed and non-uniformed members, the primary responsibility rests
with the Detective Division.
POLICY:
We will investigate all reported incidents of criminal activity. Cases requiring follow-up investigation by a
detective will be processed and assigned according to the procedures outlined herein.
PROCEDURE:
I. CASE MANAGEMENT:
A. Person(s) or Property Crime Cases:
1. Case Prioritization:
Various factors influence the priority by which reports of criminal activity may be assigned
to a detective or other members for latent and follow-up investigation. Supervisory decisions regarding the priority
coding of reports should be guided by the gravity of the offense, the urgency for action, and established crime
patterns. Cases assigned for investigation will be prioritized as follows:
a. Priority One: These reports contain:
G.O. 13.1B
1) Sufficient evidence to support prosecution; list a suspect who is identified or can be determined; and have a
high probability that an arrest can be made or warrant issued; or
2) Details that indicate the case can be unfounded, exceptionally cleared, or reclassified to a lesser offense.
b. Priority Two: These reports contain sufficient information to enable the possible development of suspects or
evidence as a result of a latent investigation.
c. Priority Three: These reports contain insufficient evidence and list unidentified suspects that minimize the
likelihood of a successful clearance.
d. Information Only: These reports involve misdemeanor and non-criminal matters to be followed up by the
Patrol Division. They have informational value, but limited solvability potential. They do not require a
supplement report unless additional information is received that changes the status of the report.
2. Case Disposition:
Criminal cases may be cleared in one of the following ways:
a. Cleared With Arrest: An offense may be cleared by an arrest when the following conditions occur:
1) At least one person is arrested and charged with the commission of the offense. (When an arrest warrant has
been obtained, the case will remain in an inactive status until the warrant has been served. Once the warrant is
served, the disposition may be changed to “cleared with arrest” with the appropriate supplement.)
2) A principal, aider, abettor, or conspirator is arrested, even if charged with a lesser offense.
3) A juvenile is cited to appear in court or before other juvenile authorities.
4) Several offenses may be cleared with one arrest, but multiple arrests may clear only one offense.
b. Exceptionally Cleared: An offense may be exceptionally cleared when all of the following conditions can be
established:
1) The identity of the offender is positively established; there is sufficient information to support an arrest and
prosecution; and the exact location of the offender is known.
2) There is some reason, beyond law enforcement control that precludes arrest, charging, or prosecution, such
as:
a) Death of the offender.
b) Extradition is declined.
c) Victim or witness refuses to cooperate.
d) Prosecution is declined.
e) The arrest is on a primary offense without prosecution on a secondary offense.
c. Unfounded: An offense may be unfounded when any of the following occur:
1) Through investigation, the allegation is determined to be false or baseless.
2) Through investigation, the offense is determined to be a higher or lesser crime than originally classified.
3) The offense is classified as a homicide and meets Uniform Crime Reporting criteria for being justifiable.
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G.O. 13.1B
3. Suspending Investigative Efforts:
When an investigation becomes “inactive,” it means that all reasonable leads
and sources of information have been exhausted. Inactive status indicates that a case has not been cleared and is not
closed. Investigative efforts may be resumed if new information or evidence should develop. The criteria for
suspending investigative efforts involve the continued application of solvability factors, the degree of seriousness,
and may include a lack of reasonable leads or lack of available investigative resources. The Detective is responsible
for making the decision to “inactivate” a case.
4. Supervisor Responsibilities:
a. Case Screening: Supervisors, who are responsible for case screening, will thoroughly review reports
submitted by officers for legibility, proper crime classification, and completeness of investigation. The supervisor
must determine if follow-up investigation is warranted, and indicate the status of the case by making the
appropriate notation on the report.
5. Detective Responsibilities:
The detective is responsible for maintaining an individual case log. Entries will be
made on a daily basis as they are assigned.
a. Upon receipt of a priority one or two case, the assigned detective will conduct a thorough investigation.
b. The Detective is responsible for obtaining copies of Offense Incident Reports as needed.
c. Supplement reports will be completed for any case when additional action is taken or new information is
developed. Access to supplemental reports done on active criminal investigations will be restricted to the
investigative division. At the completion of an investigation, and when all investigative reporting becomes a
matter of public record, all supplemental reports will be forwarded to the records unit and included in the case
file.
d. Cases that have not been cleared will be left in a pending (open) status. Cases that have been “inactivated” will
be reviewed periodically for additional action, or as information is developed. No case will be inactivated unless
all reasonable attempts to follow up on leads and information have been exhausted.
6. Case File Maintenance:
a. All case files will be maintained in a neat and organized form.
b. A case resume will be utilized in any major case, or as deemed appropriate by the detective or supervisor.
1) The investigator will date and enter a brief synopsis of the action taken on the case resume sheet as each
integral part of the investigation is completed.
c. No item of evidentiary value, such as cash, checks, receipts, original written confessions, etc., will be placed
into the case file. The original document will be placed into the custody of the Property Evidence Unit, and a
photocopy made for inclusion in the case file.
d. At the conclusion of an investigation, the assigned detective will ensure that all information pertinent to the
investigation has been included in the case file. This includes, but is not limited to, copies of the initial report and
all supplements, the Complaint Affidavit, all property receipts, all statements, and the results of examinations for
physical evidence.
\[CFA 18.01 A\]
e. All original case files are the property of the Tequesta Police Department. They will remain in the custody of
the agency upon completion of the investigation and archived in accordance with state law. Case files will be
available for review by detectives and other law enforcement officers for investigative and other legitimate
purposes. Access to active criminal investigative cases will be restricted to authorized personnel only. Inves-
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G.O. 13.1B
tigative files will be maintained in accordance with public records laws. Unresolved homicide case records will
be kept indefinitely.
\[CFA 18.01 B, C\]
B. Vice and Organized Crime Cases:
Because of their sensitive nature, and for the safety and integrity of these
investigations, active vice and organized crime case files will be maintained in the Detective office separate from the
central records system.
\[CFA 18.02\]
1.
The investigator will obtain a case number from the Communications Division and initiate an original Offense
Incident Report at the start of any vice or organized crime investigation. Basic information necessary will be
included in the report, but the names, addresses, and other information of a sensitive nature will be omitted from the
original report if the case is still active.
2.
When a case is designated as cleared or is placed in an inactive status by the detective and/or supervisor, a
supplement will be submitted to document the change of status, and all supplements contained in the case file will be
forwarded to data entry.
3.
No items of evidentiary value, including audio and video tapes and original written confessions, will be contained
in case files, but will be placed in the custody of the Property Evidence Unit. Photocopies or transcriptions of
material held by the Property Evidence Unit may be included in the case file.
II. DETECTIVE ON-CALL PROCEDURES:
A. Requests for On-Call Detective:
Requests for the on-call response of a detective will be made through the C-
ommunications Division at the request of the shift supervisor.
III. TRAINING:
Upon initial assignment to the Detective Division an officer will undergo a field training/orientation
program. Officers assigned to the Detective Division will be provided with specialized training to enhance their skills and
expertise in conducting and participating in complex criminal investigations.
\[CFA 14.12\]
IV. GLOSSARY:
CASE ACTION SYNOPSIS - A form used to update a criminal investigation case file with a brief outline of new
developments or information.
CASE FILE - An accumulation of all documents, reports and information related to a specific crime, excluding items of
an evidentiary nature, photocopies of which might be included after the originals are placed in Property Evidence.
CASE MANAGEMENT - A system of case management based on assigning priority from the type of offense,
seriousness of the crime, and evidence present.
INACTIVATED CASES - Investigations for which all reasonable leads and sources of information have been exhausted.
PENDING CASES - Investigations that are still “open” and that may or may not be “inactivated.
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G.O. 13.1B
INDEXING:
CASE FILES
CASE MANAGEMENT
CASE PRIORITIZATION
CRIMINAL CASE FILES
DETECTIVE ON-CALL PROCEDURES
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS
ON-CALL PROCEDURES (DETECTIVES)
VICE-NARCOTICS CASE FILES
DRAFTED:
RLG/March 5, 2000/Filed: Cidadm13.1B
APPROVED:
Pete Pitocchelli, Chief DATE: November 05, 2011
Tequesta, Florida
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