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Police Academy learns about police procedure, domestic violence
Nevada Daily Mail
On cop television shows, episodes often conclude with the officers slapping the handcuffs on a criminal and taking them to jail to serve a lengthy sentence, after an exciting investigation leads them to the culprit.
But in the fourth session of the Nevada Police Department's Citizens' Police Academy Wednesday, we learned of the limitations police officers deal with when trying to make such an arrest and the lengthy journey to justice that begins with that arrest.
"Police officers have to be law students, too," prosecuting attorney Lynn Ewing pointed out, saying it is up to the police officers to provide the evidence, making sure they follow procedure each step of the way. "The prosecutor only has one shot, so you better get it right the first time."
Each American citizen is given rights through the United States constitution, such as the right to a speedy trial by a jury, right to privacy and protection from incriminating them self or double jeopardy--being charged for the same crime twice.
Over the years, those rights have been upheld but changes have been made as to how police officers must uphold them, forcing those officers to constantly be on top of the most recent changes in what they are allowed to do as well as any exceptions to those rules.
"This is what cops deal with every day," Ewing said. "Making the best judgments they can... and sometimes it doesn't work out."
In each traffic stop or scene of a crime, it is up to the police officer to determine if they have probable cause to search a vehicle or person for evidence. Any evidence gathered without that probable cause would not be accepted by a judge.
At a traffic stop for example, the officers can detain and question the driver only as long as it takes to run the car tags or driver's license through dispatch. Stalling in order to give more time to spot evidence is frowned upon.
Even if the officer suspects the driver might have drugs in their possession, without probable cause, they cannot search the vehicle or driver. And if a suspect refuses to talk, the officers cannot continue questioning.
"If you don't follow those rules, the evidence doesn't come in," Ewing said, saying that can lead to perpetrators being released.
When seeking a warrant to search a building or vehicle for evidence or to arrest someone, the law enforcement again have to provide enough evidence to convince the prosecuting attorney and a judge, taking into account factors such as the likelihood they will find what they are looking for and how old their information is.
Ewing said, just as in the previous police academy session we learned officers have to make quick decisions when confronting people in traffic stops, police officers also have to make split-second decisions concerning investigations and evidence gathering.
During the second half of the session, we learned about a crime that results in about 350-400 in progress calls a year for the police department.
"Domestic violence is a crime," Martha Sander, executive director of the Moss House, said during her presentation. "But it's unlike any other crime."
Det. Sgt. Steve Bastow said handling domestic violence cases has been hard in the past, since they had to see an injury to know a crime has been committed, and many of those bruises can be covered up. But now they are able to look for other signs and do an assessment that will often reveal whether a crime was committed.
"We have a pretty good conviction rate," Bastow said, pointing out their calls for domestic violence have gone down in recent months.
Part of the success the department has had fighting this specific crime is due to the addition of a detective whose focus is violence against women. Law enforcement is now also required to direct victims toward shelters such as the Moss House.
While the number of domestic violence cases in Nevada has gone down and many victims are being helped, Sander said it is possible those battering family members might have merely moved away. But still, Sander said she finds reward in helping victims as well as providing courses for those who have abused family members.
Next week we will continue to learn about different crimes and situations police officers deal with, this time in the realms of child abuse and animal control.