Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 3 Agt Don Schnitker Defendant Police Interview Part 1

TL;DR

A DCI special agent discusses their role in assisting local law enforcement with criminal investigations, primarily focusing on death investigations and sexual assaults.

Transcript

[Applause] yes dawn snicker it's SCH NIT keer I'm a special agent with the Iowa Division of cremona station currently assigned to Major Crime Unit DCI special agent is in essence a state law enforcement officer that assists local law enforcement with their investigations there's approximately 26 DCI agents in the Major Crime Unit across the state o... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 DCI agents work alongside local law enforcement to assist with criminal investigations, providing additional resources and expertise.
• 🍵 The Major Crime Unit focuses on death investigations and sexual assaults, typically handling complex and lengthy cases.
• 😒 DCI agents use cognitive interview techniques to gather information and determine the accuracy and consistency of statements.
• 👮 DCI agents are not able to take over investigations without being invited by local law enforcement officials.
• 💁 Autopsies play a crucial role in death investigations, providing vital information that helps agents understand the cause and circumstances of a person's death.
• 🧑 Interviews are conducted separately to ensure individual recollections and to prevent one person from dominating the conversation.
• 😒 DCI agents use strategic planning to assign tasks and determine the number of assisting agents or officers needed for a case.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does a DCI agent become involved in a criminal case?

DCI agents are invited to work on cases by police chiefs, sheriffs, or county attorneys. They cannot take over an investigation without permission.

Q: What types of cases does the DCI Major Crime Unit primarily work on?

The Major Crime Unit primarily works on death investigations and sexual assaults. They also assist with cases involving homicide and robbery.

Q: How do DCI agents conduct interviews?

DCI agents use cognitive interview techniques, which involve allowing the interviewee to provide a free narrative of events and then asking follow-up questions for clarification. They also look for inconsistencies or false information in statements.

Q: Do DCI agents only investigate murder cases?

No, DCI agents also investigate other forms of death, such as natural deaths, suicides, and accidents. They can also investigate non-fatal cases in a hospital setting.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The DCI special agent discusses their role in assisting local law enforcement with criminal investigations, primarily in the areas of death investigations and sexual assaults.

• They explain that DCI agents are invited to work on cases by police chiefs, sheriffs, or county attorneys, and do not take over investigations without permission.

• The agent also describes the process of conducting interviews and how they use cognitive interview techniques to gather information and determine if statements are consistent with evidence.