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INVESTIGATION OF AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING

Essay Instructions:
Write a response, using proper English and grammar, with all quotations cited and within quotation marks, with 1.) your proposal of the step-by-step process of how a police agency should conduct an officer-involved-shooting investigation with the transparency and credibility to minimize negative public perception. 2.) explain the dual nature of the overall investigation with it\'s a.) \"criminal\" investigation to determine whether or not it was a legally justified use of deadly force and the b.) \"administrative\" investigation to determine if the officer acted within department policies. 3.) consider the article below and how that negative reactions might have been prevented or minimized. SF Protest Over BART Police Shooting Disrupts Service July 11, 2011 8:51 PM Members of the group “No Justice, No BART” crowded onto a BART train at Civic Center station on July 11, 2011. The group was protesting July 3, 2011 shooting death of Charles Hill by BART Police officers. (CBS) VIDEO LINK - Click Here SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — Bay Area Rapid Transit service has returned to normal Monday night, hours after it was disrupted by protests at several San Francisco stations. Shortly before the start of Monday evening's commute, close to 100 demonstrators gathered at Civic Center station. BART and San Francisco Municipal Railway service was temporarily suspended at that shared station after the protesters attempted to prevent an East Bay-bound BART train from departing there. The demonstrators then moved between the Powell and 16th Street stations, and the agencies instituted full and partial closures, inconveniencing hundreds of transit riders. The group No Justice, No BART, which organized the protest, said it is demanding that the BART Police Department be disbanded after BART police officers shot and killed a knife-wielding man at the station last week. The group is also demanding that both of the two officers involved in the July 3 shooting of 45-year-old Charles Hill be fired and criminally charged if it is found that the shooting was not justified. The dwindling group of demonstrators took to Market Street just before 7 p.m. and marched from Civic Center to Powell Street, where San Francisco police officers blocked about a dozen protesters from traveling up Powell Street. About as many police officers had formed a line to block the protesters' path. Monday's protest was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on the platform of the Civic Center station. Several dozen people had gathered at the station by 4:45 p.m., and BART safety officers in green vests had a notable presence on the train platform. >>Auditor To Investigate SF BART Police Shooting BART police in riot gear monitored the situation and had non-lethal weapons ready. By 5:15 p.m. the crowd had thickened and began chanting “No justice, no peace, disband the BART police” and “Cops, pigs, murderers.” Once one East Bay-bound train had inched into the station, some protesters boarded the train and began banging on the train's windows. After about 10 minutes, safety officers and police were able to close the train's doors and the train departed the station. Shortly afterward, around 5:20 p.m., the station's LED message boards displayed messages informing passengers that no trains would be stopping at Civic Center station. By 5:30 p.m., Muni announced that its service had also been suspended at the station. By 6 p.m., some of the group had moved to Powell Street station where they were chanting and screaming on the BART platform. At some point before then, the platform had temporarily been closed because of overcrowding related to the influx of passengers displaced from Civic Center station. It appeared that all of the protesters boarded a Daly City-bound train at 6:17 p.m. Although some of them attempted to block the doors and prevent the train from leaving the station, the train departed a few minutes later. All BART service returned to normal by 8 p.m. Earlier on Monday BART spokesman Linton Johnson said such a protest would be illegal. “Disruptive protests like this planned on small platforms with fast moving trains and large crowds are against the law because they put … riders, BART workers, journalists and protesters at serious risk of injury or death,” he said. After the disruptions, Johnson criticized the demonstrators' actions. “These fringe groups have apparently shown no regard for the work of their fellow citizens and, of course, the customers on the train, the elderly—all those folks who need Civic Center station open and rely on the station,” he said. Johnson said that the station was closed “to maintain safety at an inconvenience to the elderly, the disabled” and all other customers because of the demonstrators' actions. Johnson said that BART police had not made any arrests as of 6 p.m. Hill was wielding a knife and a broken alcohol bottle before BART police shot him on the train platform, Johnson said. BART police said Hill was aggressive and combative and did not comply with orders. One of the officers suffered minor cuts during the confrontation, BART officials said. A Facebook page has been set up for the rally, and as of Monday morning, more than 370 people had indicated they would attend. No Justice, No BART was formed in response to the New Year's Day 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant III. Grant, a 22-year-old Hayward resident who was unarmed, was shot and killed by then-BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale station in Oakland.
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INVESTIGATION OF AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING
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Introduction
The significance of openness in the police and public communication cannot be over emphasised. Transparency in the day today police operations is paramount in the creation of trust by the public. Police officers have a responsibility of ensuring the safety of all citizens. Investigation of an officers involved shooting can be a very critical element to any law enforcers. This is because most of the shootings bring with them media speculations and public attention. In addition, issues related to liability if not correctly handled can generate irreparable damage to the image of the department. In order to succeed in such a circumstance, the police department has to mandate an in depth scrutiny of an investigative expertise. The expertise should endeavour to generate high level of evidence, which will disclose fully what transpired, and present the same for public scrutiny. This paper evaluates the process by which investigators should follow in investigating a case of an officer involved shooting.
Investigation Process of an Officer Involved Shooting
Investigation of an officer involved shooting will necessitate an in depth investigation by expertise detectives with wide understanding of such incidences. To maintain regularity and high sense of experience, police departments must harbour investigative personnel that handle such incidences as police shootings. This team should be knowledgeable with regard to handling weapons, ballistics, tactics, human performance, issues related to deadly force and departmental policies.
On-scene investigation in such a circumstance should include all elements needed in such an investigation. Additionally, taking video images of the crime scene and observers is essential. The relevance in videotaping the crime scene is that, the initial appearance will be preserved in addition to indicating, the lighting, weather circumstances and the veracity of the crime scene. Furthermore, the video tape will act as a record for proof in court cases.
After scene investigation stabilizes, the victim should be taken to the medic who will then assess the person’s condition and provide a post-mortem report. Investigators should conduct an elaborate examination in determining the facts, before deciding on the charges to be construed. All potential witnesses including citizens and police officers must be isolated...
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