Contrary to what most people believe or see on television, most police work is still based largely on actually talking with the involved parties of the crime in question. If everyone keeps their mouths shut, nothing usually happens. Physical evidence like bloodied clothing, discarded weapons, finger prints, video, etc. are of exceptional…
Contrary to what most people believe or see on television, most police work is still based largely on actually talking with the involved parties of the crime in question. If everyone keeps their mouths shut, nothing usually happens. Physical evidence like bloodied clothing, discarded weapons, finger prints, video, etc. are of exceptional value, but are not always present, and they don’t always tell the whole story even when they are. Being able to effectively query witnesses about important and often time-sensitive information (especially in the immediate aftermath of a situation that may have shocked or traumatized them) is difficult. It is a skill that is usually developed over time. It also requires the responding officer to switch gears rapidly, often from life-saving mode to detective mode. That can be a hard switch to flip, and the exceptional officers (like some I was fortunate to work with) were able to do both simultaneously. That said, there is no training that is going to completely prepare anyone for seeing that first bloodied body, still warm, still bleeding, but going or gone. Witnesses are understandably probably struggling with those same emotions, but are often going to be adding a healthy dose of fear. That’ll be true especially if the suspect is known to them. Some witnesses will also be apathetic. “Better them than me” is not an altogether difficult attitude to encounter when dealing with crime.
Add to the difficult task mentioned above, an oncoming generation that prefers to communicate through TikTok, and you have a problem. Not only that, but a lot those exceptional officers I mentioned (and there are always some at every department that have been busting their asses trying to do the right thing for 20 years), well, a lot of them have gone elsewhere. While I don’t view myself as having been exceptional, I too fled the coop after only five and half years. The defund movement (and politician and activist fueled hatred of the police and the rule of law in general) is going to have a much deeper impact across the years than many people realize. It’s a lot easier for a seasoned officer that is well-known in the community he works to run up to a horrific scene (murder or otherwise) and get information about what happened. That officer’s not a stranger. The witnesses have probably at least seen the officer on patrol, they may have chatted with him, and they may have even asked for help in the past. The suspect actually might even trust that officer enough to confess. I’ve seen it happen. The constant cycle of new faces makes a strained relationship and trust even harder. Policing in America is a strained relationship. The new officers in many departments are probably having to teach themselves a lot things I was fortunate enough to have been shown. It’ll be a process, and people will continue to do shitty things to one-another while the new officers are learning.
Lastly, not all murder victims are nice people. I shouldn’t have to say that I don’t think this means the victims who fit that description deserved to be murdered, but I’ll say that here anyway for anyone who takes things too literally. However, we do seem to deify anyone who dies nowadays, and that makes it difficult to ask questions such as, “why would someone want to shoot Johnny?” Was Johnny minding his own business, helping his elderly neighbor get her groceries in while on the phone with the Pope, or was he sneaking around with Billy Bob’s girl and stealing all of a Billy Bob’s meth? Questions for the ages. Answers will often vary by association. Anyway, I’m rambling a bit and I imagine there are many more reasons than I have listed that murders remain unsolved. Each case is different. I don’t miss dealing with it.
Excellent comment. I would only add that with so many of today's homicides being drive-by's, in neighborhoods that have an untrusting relationship with the cops, 50% probably is about as good as it gets.
Contrary to what most people believe or see on television, most police work is still based largely on actually talking with the involved parties of the crime in question. If everyone keeps their mouths shut, nothing usually happens. Physical evidence like bloodied clothing, discarded weapons, finger prints, video, etc. are of exceptional value, but are not always present, and they don’t always tell the whole story even when they are. Being able to effectively query witnesses about important and often time-sensitive information (especially in the immediate aftermath of a situation that may have shocked or traumatized them) is difficult. It is a skill that is usually developed over time. It also requires the responding officer to switch gears rapidly, often from life-saving mode to detective mode. That can be a hard switch to flip, and the exceptional officers (like some I was fortunate to work with) were able to do both simultaneously. That said, there is no training that is going to completely prepare anyone for seeing that first bloodied body, still warm, still bleeding, but going or gone. Witnesses are understandably probably struggling with those same emotions, but are often going to be adding a healthy dose of fear. That’ll be true especially if the suspect is known to them. Some witnesses will also be apathetic. “Better them than me” is not an altogether difficult attitude to encounter when dealing with crime.
Add to the difficult task mentioned above, an oncoming generation that prefers to communicate through TikTok, and you have a problem. Not only that, but a lot those exceptional officers I mentioned (and there are always some at every department that have been busting their asses trying to do the right thing for 20 years), well, a lot of them have gone elsewhere. While I don’t view myself as having been exceptional, I too fled the coop after only five and half years. The defund movement (and politician and activist fueled hatred of the police and the rule of law in general) is going to have a much deeper impact across the years than many people realize. It’s a lot easier for a seasoned officer that is well-known in the community he works to run up to a horrific scene (murder or otherwise) and get information about what happened. That officer’s not a stranger. The witnesses have probably at least seen the officer on patrol, they may have chatted with him, and they may have even asked for help in the past. The suspect actually might even trust that officer enough to confess. I’ve seen it happen. The constant cycle of new faces makes a strained relationship and trust even harder. Policing in America is a strained relationship. The new officers in many departments are probably having to teach themselves a lot things I was fortunate enough to have been shown. It’ll be a process, and people will continue to do shitty things to one-another while the new officers are learning.
Lastly, not all murder victims are nice people. I shouldn’t have to say that I don’t think this means the victims who fit that description deserved to be murdered, but I’ll say that here anyway for anyone who takes things too literally. However, we do seem to deify anyone who dies nowadays, and that makes it difficult to ask questions such as, “why would someone want to shoot Johnny?” Was Johnny minding his own business, helping his elderly neighbor get her groceries in while on the phone with the Pope, or was he sneaking around with Billy Bob’s girl and stealing all of a Billy Bob’s meth? Questions for the ages. Answers will often vary by association. Anyway, I’m rambling a bit and I imagine there are many more reasons than I have listed that murders remain unsolved. Each case is different. I don’t miss dealing with it.
That was very informative and insightful. Thanks for that
Excellent comment. I would only add that with so many of today's homicides being drive-by's, in neighborhoods that have an untrusting relationship with the cops, 50% probably is about as good as it gets.
That was my first thought. If a greater percentage of all murders are gang-related, it would make sense that the culprits cannot be caught.
Thanks for this comment.
Wasn't it Kim Foxx that tried to help Jussie Smullet get away with his hoax hate crime?