If injured persons are discovered at the scene of the crime, giving them aid is a
matter of first priority.
Proper procedures must be followed.
If there are
trained medical personnel in the area, request their assistance. Call for proper
medical personnel as the situation requires.
In extreme cases, it may be necessary to move objects or persons that may have
evidence potential. However, movement of evidence prior to when it has been fully
processed and examined should be avoided whenever possible. Otherwise, you run a
great chance of losing evidence crucial to the case.
Collect Identification and Separate Victims, Witnesses
MP at the scene of a crime should temporarily collect some form of identification
from all persons at the scene. Once names have been recorded, the identification
should be returned.
This is done to ensure that all persons are positively
identified and interviewed.
MP must also separate witnesses, victims, and persons who notified the military
police into groups. This is done so that questioning can be done individually. Be
sure to separate the groups far enough apart to prevent the victim from talking to
witnesses.
Each group should be instructed to avoid discussing the incident.
Individual questioning should be conducted far enough from the group that your
conversation cannot be heard.
Be sure to record the name, rank, social security
number (SSN), and unit of bystanders and those questioned.
Protect the Crime Scene
Protecting the crime scene is vital.
Basic procedures include the following:
o
Limit access to the crime scene.
o
Protect to prevent loss, theft, alteration, and destruction of evidence.
The immediate protection measures include roping off critical exits and posting
guards to control spectators around areas expected to have high potential for
physical evidence.
Areas containing physical evidence should be covered when in
jeopardy of being affected by smoke, rain, snow, wind, or direct sunlight.
Evidence at the crime scene must be maintained in its original state and condition.
Thus, MP are directed to keep unauthorized persons from entering the crime scene.
Access to the crime scene must be limited. The area is protected to prevent loss,
theft, alteration, and destruction of evidence.
Preserve Physical Aspects. The underlying intent of all actions taken to protect
the crime scene is to preserve its physical aspects so that they may be reviewed in
detail by the crime scene investigators assigned to the case. Thus, the major task
of the MP representatives observing the scene is to prevent certain actions.
Specifically, prevent--
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