b. MPs must arrive at the scene of a crime as soon as possible. At this time
the scene is the source of the most productive evidence. The offender was there or
may still be present.
Physical evidence in the form of weapons, tool marks,
fingerprints, footprints, tire marks, and fibers may also be waiting for the
scrutiny of the MPI.
c. The value of the crime scene rapidly vanishes.
Rain, snow, or wind, or in
some cases, the victim, may destroy traces of the offender. A few minutes may mean
the difference between finding abundant evidence or finding little or nothing.
d. Preservation of the crime scene then becomes the responsibility of the first
MP on the scene.
His swift arrival may stop the destruction or contamination of
physical evidence.
It may prevent further injury or loss of life or the loss of
valuable witnesses.
PART B - PROTECTION OF THE CRIME SCENE.
a. When an incident or crime is within the MP scope of interest and
jurisdiction, normally one or more MP patrols will arrive at the scene first.
These MPs should take steps to protect the scene and secure the names and addresses
of witnesses.
b. Every care must be taken to preserve the integrity of the scene. This will
ensure that no evidence is lost, mutilated, destroyed, altered, rearranged,
concealed, or removed by unauthorized persons.
c. The type of protective action to take depends upon the location, size, and
area of the crime scene.
It depends also on the type evidence found and the
progress of the investigation. Security may be had in one or more of these ways:
(1) Roping off the area.
(2) Setting fixed and/or roving, dismounted patrols.
(3) Using motorized patrols.
d. MP protection not only preserves the integrity of the evidence found at the
scene; it also denies access to it by unauthorized persons.
(1) When first aid is necessary, evidence takes second place. A crime scene
may be disturbed as necessary to give first aid, evacuate the injured, or to have
persons pronounced dead at the scene by a medical doctor.
If evidence must be
moved in these cases, its position should first be marked or outlined for future
reference.
(2) Appropriate action must be taken to protect some evidence.
This would
include evidence which may be destroyed by rain, snow, fire, or other causes before
examination. The following are only a few of the actions which may be taken:
MP0018
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