Police Chief Magazine|Topics|Investigations
Crime & Violence
Police line tape marks crime scene beside blue shipping container; two responders, one in high-vis gear, assist person lying on the ground
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Deflection Turns 10

Ten years ago, an article appeared in the September 2015 issue of IACP’s Police Chief magazine that would introduce a new word into the U.S.  police and justice lexicon: deflection. Eventually, the...
Drugs & Alcohol
Two uniformed officers walk side by side on the city subway line; background shows modern buildings, bus stops, digital signs, and urban infrastructure
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The Troubling Drug-Transit Convergence

The expansive U.S. rail network—long a symbol of economic development and connectivity—is increasingly being exploited for the transportation and distribution of illicit narcotics. Rail transit sy...
Investigations
Three individuals in outdoor gear walk through tall grass in dense forest; surrounded by trees and foliage, suggesting fieldwork or search activity.
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Investigating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons

The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is one of the most urgent and complex public safety challenges facing police agencies in the United States. Indigenous communities—partic...
Investigations
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A Paradigm Shift in Science-Based Interviewing

A few years ago, Captain Christian Cory (Wichita, Kansas, Police Department) had the following experience: I was receiving my yearly evaluation from my commander in the homicide section. He asked m...
Investigations
Two officers review documents and evidence on cluttered desk in office; lamp, case files, and wall photos suggest active investigation workspace.
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Effective Case Triage

There are multiple phases of case triage throughout most criminal investigations, which begin with the receipt of the call for service, continue throughout the preliminary and follow-up investigations...
Investigations
Two individuals sit at computer displaying code with terms like “resolve” and “function”; blue light streaks overlay scene, suggesting cyber operations.
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Teaming Up to Crack Cold Cases

In 2019, the Michigan State Police (MSP) Fifth District Headquarters–Special Investigation Section began a collaborative effort with Western Michigan University (WMU) to leverage university students...
Technology
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UAS Crime Scene Videography

Drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), have rapidly transformed policing, particularly tactical operations. Their ability to gather intelligence, provide aerial perspectives for situational aware...
Crime & Violence
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De-Escalation in Everyday Police Operations

Everyday police work encompasses any kind of deployment that police officers handle daily. These tasks include, for example, interventions in cases of domestic violence, handling of traffic crashes an...
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