In the past, detectives retroactively investigated almost all felonies and some misdemeanors. One alternative to retroactive investigations is having patrol officers complete preliminary investigations on their calls and detectives investigate only very serious or complex crimes. Additionally, departments can utilize the Managing Criminal Investigations, or MCI, Method. The MCI Method focuses investigators' time and efforts into the cases most likely to be solved and has resulted in more efficient departments with more proactive stances toward policing.
This scenario focuses on the division of law enforcement and investigative duties.
Last week, the Police Commissioner for El Paso County, Colorado, called together the police chiefs from the smaller precincts in the district, including you, the Palmer Lake, Colorado, police chief. The Commissioner informed the law enforcement leaders that some changes were on the horizon for their departments. He discussed how patrol officers were now to be assigned more preliminary investigation work, and detectives were to focus on major crimes only. He stated that each department would need to create a new supervisory position that would be responsible for determining which cases are followed up on and by whom. Using the Managing Criminal Investigations (MCI) Method, the supervisor will rate the cases based on the findings of the patrol officers' initial investigations, then assign them to either the road officer or a detective. He noted that all departments would be expected to institute these changes within a year, with the time frame left up to the individual department leaders.
-What method have police traditionally used to investigate crimes?

Question

In the past, detectives retroactively investigated almost all felonies and some misdemeanors. One alternative to retroactive investigations is having patrol officers complete preliminary investigations on their calls and detectives investigate only very serious or complex crimes. Additionally, departments can utilize the Managing Criminal Investigations, or MCI, Method. The MCI Method focuses investigators' time and efforts into the cases most likely to be solved and has resulted in more efficient departments with more proactive stances toward policing. 
This scenario focuses on the division of law enforcement and investigative duties.
Last week, the Police Commissioner for El Paso County, Colorado, called together the police chiefs from the smaller precincts in the district, including you, the Palmer Lake, Colorado, police chief. The Commissioner informed the law enforcement leaders that some changes were on the horizon for their departments. He discussed how patrol officers were now to be assigned more preliminary investigation work, and detectives were to focus on major crimes only. He stated that each department would need to create a new supervisory position that would be responsible for determining which cases are followed up on and by whom. Using the Managing Criminal Investigations (MCI) Method, the supervisor will rate the cases based on the findings of the patrol officers' initial investigations, then assign them to either the road officer or a detective. He noted that all departments would be expected to institute these changes within a year, with the time frame left up to the individual department leaders.
-What method have police traditionally used to investigate crimes?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

a. Correct. In the past almost all felonies and some misdemeanors were investigated retroactively by detectives. See "Retroactive Investigation of Past Crimes by Detectives,"
b. Incorrect. Managing Criminal Investigations is a method the Rand study in 1977 recommended as a more effective way to investigate crimes. In the past almost all felonies and some misdemeanors were investigated retroactively by detectives. See "Retroactive Investigation of Past Crimes by Detectives,"
c. Incorrect. Intelligence-led policing is a method that uses data analysis and intelligence to focus police resources on crimes that cause the most harm to the community. In the past almost all felonies and some misdemeanors were investigated retroactively by detectives. See "Retroactive Investigation of Past Crimes by Detectives,"
d. Incorrect. Crime analysis is the analysis of data that police organization use to try to answer the questions what, where, when, and why regarding a crime. In the past almost all felonies and some misdemeanors were investigated retroactively by detectives. See "Retroactive Investigation of Past Crimes by Detectives,"

In the Past, Detectives Retroactively Investigated Almost All Felonies and Some