doc_2670966

WINDERMERE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to provide for the efficient flow of information and to provide general procedures for conducting investigative functions in order to achieve the objectives of criminal investigations. 2. Policy It is the policy of the Agency to utilize the integrated resources of investigative and patrol functions to maintain an effective criminal investigative function to arrest and convict offenders and to recover stolen property. 3. Procedures A. The Windermere Police Department shall have personnel assigned to conduct follow -up investigations on criminal incidents that are documented by Agency personnel. B. Patrol personnel are authorized to conduct follow -up investigations on cases that they initia te. Under certain circumstances, a supervisor may reassign the investigation to the initiating officer for training and experience. C. The Chief of Police shall appoint a department officer based on a review of candidate resume’ and three (3) investigative c ases. Effective Date: October 17, 2022  Rescinds  Amends  New Policy Number: 15.1 SUBJECT : Investigations Print Date: 10/17/22 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: October 15.1, Page 2 D. General 1. A patrol officer shall notify his / her supervisor when investigating certain incidents. The supervisor shall make the decision whether to notify the agency detective and / or the Deputy Chief or Chief. 2. Incidents requiring notification include, but are not limited to the following: a. Child molestation b. Major fires c. Sexual battery d. Child abuse with great bodily injury e. Suicide attempts with life threatening injuries f. Abduction, kidnapping, or a missing person requiring immediate response g. Drowning h. Bomb threats i. Robbery j. Aircraft accident k. Arson if used to kill or attempt to kill l. Hazardous material incident m. All death cases n. Any other incident of a serious or noteworthy nature 3. The criminal investigative component shall have a system of file maintenance. This system shall be as follows: a. An electronic copy of all reports generated by uniform patrol officers shall be maintained by the Records Custodian, using the current Records Management System. [15.01M(A)] 1. The patrol supervisor shall review all offenses submitted into the RMS and assign the report to an investigator. 2. Cases not assigned will be closed out with the applicable clearance in the RMS. b. If electronic cases are printed, the agency detective sh all maintain these cases in a locked file cabinet in their office as their investigative files. [15.01M(C)] 15.1, Page 3 c. To preserve the security of the files, the file cabinets shall be kept locked when the detective is not in the office. The detective, Deputy Chief, and Chief of Police shall be the only agency personnel to have access to detective files . [15.01M(B)] d. Closed files shall be purged from the RMS (Report Management System) or file room if applicable, in accordance with appropriate records retention schedules by the agency records custodian. 4. All officers shall assure compliance with constitutional requirements during criminal investigations: [15.06M] a. Interviews – Non-custodial 1. Suspect(s) shall be i nformed they are not in custody and are free to lea ve. 2. No interview shall be conducted in excess of four (4) hours without providing for breaks for meals and or restroom usage. 3. No attempt shall be made to obtain confessions or statements by force, coercion, threat or promis e. 4. Suspect(s ) shall be advised of the names and authority of the interview / interrogating persons as well as the nature of the interview / interrogation. b. Interrogations – Custodial [15.06M] 1. Miranda Warnings shall be read to all suspects prior to questioning. 2. Once a suspect invokes his or her right to counsel or silence, the interview / interrogation shall cease. 3. No interrogations shall be conducted in excess of four (4) hours without providing for breaks for meals and or restroom usage. 4. No attempt shall be made to obtain confessions or statements by force, coercion, threat, or promise. 15.1, Page 4 5. Suspects shall be advised of the names and authority of the interviewin g / interrogating persons as well as the nature of the interview / interrogation. 5. The following procedures shall apply for all field interviews. a. Field interviews shall be conducted under the following circumstances: [15.07(A)] 1. When a suspect is contacted following a crime / incident 2. When a person, vehicle, or firearm is contacted in locations or circumstances that arouse suspicion or caused alarm 3. When a crime / incident witness is contacted b. Field interviews, if documented, shall be do cumented on the Field Interview Report and will include a brief explanation as to the reason for the interview . Subjects who do not object may be photographed . [15.07(B)] c. When images or videos are captured it will be referenced in the Field Interview Report and uploaded to the appropriate database. d. The Field Interview Report may be distributed to the detective electronically or printed