Policy Text
Policy
406Fremont Police Department
Crime Scene Investigators
406.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
It is the policy of the Fremont Police Department to provide the most careful examination of crime
scenes possible. The Department will do everything reasonably necessary to properly collect and
preserve physical evidence at a crime scene. To meet this goal, a group of Police Officers and
Community Service Officers (CSOs) have been trained in physical evidence techniques to work
in conjunction with the Crime Lab Forensic Specialists. It is the purpose of this policy to provide a
structure for the Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Program and to enhance the department's ability
to collect and preserve physical evidence relative to criminal prosecution.
406.2 PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES
(a)To further enhance the ability of the department in the apprehension and prosecution
of criminals, selected Police Officers and selected Community Service Officers will
be assigned as Crime Scene Investigators. Each will receive special training in the
examination of crime scenes and the collection and preservation of physical evidence.
As the need arises, more Police and Community Service Officers will be trained to fill
vacant positions.
(b)The administrative control of the program shall be with the Staff Officer designated by
the Chief of Police. A Lieutenant will be assigned direct administrative control of the
program and be responsible for developing and maintaining policy and procedures.
Day-to-day supervision and performance evaluations shall be provided by the Patrol
Supervisors assigned to each shift. The CSI Sergeant will ordinarily schedule and
attend all meetings.
(c)Training - Upon appointment to the position, each new CSI shall be assigned to
attend classes on the collection and preservation of physical evidence, crime scene
photography, and the classification and comparison of fingerprints. The department
shall maintain an on-going program to update and expand skills. Those CSIs attending
such update training shall be responsible to distribute information to other members.
Whenever possible, CSIs should obtain all necessary equipment and supplies prior to
attendance at official training. Such equipment will normally be authorized for purchase
through the employee "buy-back" program subject to approval by the Chief of Police.
(d)CSIs shall provide classes to other members of the department as assigned, including
but not limited to, roll-call training, in-house academy training, and advanced officer
training courses as needed.
406.3 CSI SELECTION
CSI vacancies shall be filled from a list of eligible Police Officers and Community Service Officers
prepared under the provisions of the Specialty Assignments policy.
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406.4 CSI ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments under the provisions of this policy are made as follows:
(a)CSIs will be assigned to each patrol shift. CSI/CSOs may be assigned to day shift or
swing shift as part of their regularly scheduled CSO assignment. One CSI/CSO will
be assigned to each patrol team (A or B) on either day or swing shift depending upon
the needs of the department.
(b)CSIs will be assigned to a zone for regularly authorized assignments, but may operate
citywide for CSI purposes.
(c)CSIs will be counted toward meeting minimum staffing requirements.
406.5 CSI RESPONSIBILITIES
(a)Calls for service assignments
1.Police Officer CSIs will generally not be assigned as the primary officer for any
case that would appear to have extensive follow-up or interviews. For example:
(a)CSIs should not be the primary officers on cases such as 261, 187,
288, 211, 470, death investigations, in progress calls, cases with known
suspects, or in-custody cases.
(b)In the event that there are no available primary units available for the
above calls, CSIs may be dispatched as the primary unit. When this is the
case, attempts will be made to relieve the CSIs as the primary unit when
possible.
(c)CSIs may be used as cover units for these assignments and may be the
primary officer for all other calls for service.
2.CSI/CSOs will be assigned regular CSO assignments, as well as CSI-related
duties. Watch Commanders and Communication Center personnel should be
aware if the CSI/CSO is the only on-duty CSI for that shift, they should not
be assigned primary responsibilities for extensive reports not requiring CSI
expertise.
(b)When on-duty and available, CSIs shall respond to the following incidents:
(a)Homicides, including attempts.
(b)Suicides, including attempts where death is likely.
(c)Assaults where serious injury results, which shall include any felony assault,
child or spousal abuse, where injuries are greater than simple bruising or cuts
requiring suture result.
(d)Discharge of a firearm by a police officer resulting in death or injury to any
person.
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(e)Major use of force incidents by on-duty personnel.
(f)Accidental deaths.
(g)Unattended deaths where there are any unusual circumstances, which shall
include the death of a person without known illness or injury, or any indication
of possible violence.
(h)Any major disaster, whether man-made or natural.
(i)Any felony investigations that have moderate to extensive evidence work when
requested by the investigating officer or detective.
(j)Major traffic collisions when requested by the investigating officer.
(k)Search warrants when requested by the investigating officer or detective for
photographs.
(l)Autopsies when requested by the investigating officer