Coroner Talk | Death Investigation Training | Police And Law Enforcement

Someone must oversee a crime scene.   This means one person is directing all activity. This might not be a ranking member of a department, though.  If no one takes charge, the scene is chaotic, and nothing is done correctly.    The investigator in charge should oversee the investigation and scene documentation. He or she should ensure proper chain of custody and documentation of evidence. They are in charge of maintaining scene integrity.   As with any crime scene, cooperation is critical among differing agencies. But with a death scene, this cooperation is ever more important and strained. Due to the increased severity of the scene, the spotlight, and egos, these scenes can quickly become a disaster. Therefore, teamwork is vital, and it is the lead investigator's role to set a tone of cooperation and teamwork.    One of the most significant issues in a major case is the failure to communicate information to those working on the case. Some agencies seem to want to keep what they know to themselves. This prima