NCJ Number
136643
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1992) Pages: 45-47
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The police department of Mesa, Ariz. cross-trains its criminal investigators to make better use of them in times of funding constraints.
Abstract
Captain Bob Wilmarth, who heads the criminal investigation division, maintains that although specialists are desirable in some situations, other types of crime have common features that allow the same set of skills to be used. Mesa's Criminal Investigation Division has 63 detectives with 3 lieutenants, 12 sergeants, and one master police officer. The department's budget allows only limited outside training, so it needs to provide in-house courses. Master Police Officer Mark Jones developed a comprehensive seminar to train investigators to cover requests for service around the clock. The 2-day course covered major topics needed for high-profile cases. Topics include forensic pathology, the investigation of shootings involving the police, firearms evidence, the use of the department's computer, suspect profiling, preparation for prosecution, the collection of serological evidence, crime scene sketching, and the investigation of major cases.