Officer Roles
The Uniformed Officer's Role
The uniformed officer's role is to:
- Assist you, the victim and notify EMS if requested
- Interview you about the facts of the crime
- Attempt to locate the suspect. If the suspect is at the scene and probable cause exists, an arrest will be made immediately
- Locate and secure evidence of the crime
- Complete a crime report based on the officer's investigation
- Forward the report to the Criminal Investigation Division for assignment
- If necessary, request victim assistance
The Assigned Detective's Role
The assigned detective's role is to:
- Contact and review the case with the victim, and may request a detailed written statement
- Interview witnesses and obtain statements
- Review and evaluate the evidence collected
- After the investigation is complete, present the case to the Criminal District Attorney for filing of charges
The District Attorney's Role
The District Attorney's role is to review the investigation and, if supported, file charges against the suspect and issue a warrant. An arrest of the suspect does not mean that they will be held in jail until the time of trial.
Bonds
A bond will be set after the arrest and in the event the suspect posts bond, they will be released. In all arrests involving family violence, attempts will be made to notify you prior to the suspect being released from jail. This will allow you time to seek a place of safety, if necessary.
Testimony
In order to protect you from future acts of violence, you can be compelled to testify against your offender at the trial. This guarantees that all cases are heard by a judge and all protective measures are taken.