NCJ Number
104699
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1987) Pages: 27-46
Date Published
1987
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This series of five articles on criminal investigation techniques addresses product tampering, video gambling machine distributors, investigative 'tunnel vision,' and facilitating investigative feedback to field officers.
Abstract
An overview of Government and industry responses to product tampering incidents provides statistics on the numbers and nature of such incidents, Federal law enforcement strategies, consumer education campaigns, improved packaging, and cyanide controls. Guidelines to investigating a tampering case focus on knowing the elements of the offense, collecting solid evidence to nail the perpetrator, and spreading the word about the conviction and sentence. Another article describes Operation Quartermatch, an investigation into video gambling in Maryland that is a benchmark in gambling prosecution history. One author describes an innovative method to evaluate crime scene investigative techniques and keep investigators alert: send officers to a mock crime scene without telling them that it isn't a real situation. The final article describes a short Investigative Feedback Form used by the Dallas police to improve communications between investigators and field officers. Evaluation results have indicated enthusiastic acceptance by all officers.