Policy Text
CHAPTER EFFECTIVE DATE REVISED PAGE NUMBER
SCOPE: This directive is applicable to all sworn employees of the Department.
POLICY: Investigations begin upon the first notification that a crime may have been
committed and end when the case is solved and the perpetrator is arrested, prosecuted, or
the case has been otherwise resolved. It is of critical importance that each aspect of the
investigative process is conducted properly and that each employee participating in the
investigation understands their responsibilities and the parameters under which they must
operate.
DEFINITIONS:
Case File: An accumulation of all documents, reports, and information related to a specific
crime, excluding items of an evidentiary nature, photocopies of which may be included after
the originals are placed in the Property Evidence facility.
Custodial: In custody of law enforcement officers or otherwise deprived of freedom of
action in any significant way. (Florida Law Enforcement Handbook)
Interview: Is the method used to obtain information from persons having knowledge of a
particular incident, and the willingness to provide it.
Interrogation: Express questioning and also any words or actions on the part of an officer
that the officer should know is likely to elicit an incriminating response from the suspect.
(Florida Law Enforcement Handbook)
Non-Custodial: Questioning of a suspect in a setting where it is clear that they have the
ability to terminate the questioning and leave.
Surveillance: The continuous or prolonged observation of a targeted individual, group, or
organization by clandestine means to gather information relative to an open criminal
investigation. Surveillance differs from monitoring in that it typically involves the use of more
invasive tactics such as electronic monitoring.
PROCEDURE: