Crime Scene Evaluation Examples

Scene evaluation is often stressed and discussed in literature for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Fire/Rescue agencies. Responders are taught to do a “windshield evaluation” of the scene as they arrive. This means responders should look at the scene as they arrive, observing as much as they can through the windows of the vehicle. They should be looking for obstacles in the way, hazards to the victim and themselves, and get a general idea of nature of injury or severity. When it comes to crime scenes, EMS and Fire Department personnel typically are not focused on evidence preservation or prosecution of criminals. That being said, there are several observations responders can make to assist law enforcement officials to help them determine
For example, a person should not reasonably expect to observe large amounts of herbicides at a food processing facility. Nor should they anticipate chlorine canisters at an outdoor sports arena. Out of place chemicals could be a significant indicator of terrorist activity or proximal cause of the event.

Along with suspicious individuals and out of place chemicals, there may be other indicators such as debris fields or fragmentation patterns that suggest an unusual explosion. Buildings without a gas supply typically don't explode without some type of explosive device being introduced. Blast patterns and debris generated can be valuable indicators of how the explosion occurred.

With most events where damage to infrastructure or physical harm to victims has occurred, there are always witnesses standing around watching. Many of them will utter statements and comments to emergency responders. Sometimes, those statements can be the one piece of information and investigator needs to tie all the other pieces together into a coherent picture of the event. Emergency responders would do well to attempt to remember those statements and who made them as accurately as they possibly