Most police agencies failed to realize that the normal everyday patrol officer is the first line of defense in a police investigation. Furthermore, a uniform patrol officers handles a great deal of general investigations, for example, while completing a report, accessing the scene of a burglary or even a simple traffic stop that could produce a large drug bust. Studies have found that waiting to train patrol officers on the technique of investigation skills can dramatically affect the officer’s effectiveness (Powell, Hughes-Scholes, Smith, & Sharman, 2014). I can speak from personal experience I did not go to the Reid Investigation Interviewing class until I had twelve years on the department.
General investigation can be handled on a precinct
General investigation can be handled on a precinct