Day 16- Must Haves: Investigator's Kit

One of the essential aspects of police work is investigation. The purpose of an investigation is to establish relevant facts to prove or disprove allegations of fraud and corruption. It is a legally established fact-finding process conducted in an impartial and objective manner, with the aim to establish the relevant facts and make recommendations in this connection. Police officers must conduct investigations as accurately as possible since this could determine the outcome of a case. Most of the time, an inquiry’s result changes an issue’s flow. One flaw in the investigation could create a massive problem in giving justice to the victims and the victim’s families.

Aside from the proficiency of an investigator in analyzing and solving cases, inspecting evidences, and identifying possible circumstances, there are other substantial factors that makes an investigation concrete and coherent. Vital factors in a criminal case, such as fingerprints, handwriting, signature verification, and blood typing, to mention a few, are things that are crucial for an investigator to wrap a case. The police could only conduct the proper investigation with technology and tools necessary to perform the duty. Thus, crime scene kits exist; to produce accurate scientific results that would help the prosecution and the court arrive at a decision that would benefit the public. Today, I saw what investigators consider essential in their daily work. At Legazpi City Police Station, under the guidance and supervision of PLTCOL DENNIS B BALLA, Chief of Police, the contents of a field investigator’s crime scene kit were shown and explained to me. I already understood how rigid and critical investigations could be, but seeing the equipment they use raised my respect for them. It was a manifestation of one investigator’s dedication to his work. Every gear in the kit requires intricacy in the creation of an investigator. I imagined how a single kit had helped many people obtain justice for their cases. The bag I was looking at contained the tools that helped find things vital for a patient. The kit can help solve the unknown, and that alone is impressive.

However, what occurred to me at that time was not only my amazement at the kit but my more profound respect for the work of a crime scene investigator. While PSSgt Victor Esquivel was explaining, his eyes projected love and passion for one’s career. A crime scene investigator requires high standards in one’s technical skills and colossal patience and dedication to their work. Investigators often deal with scenarios that are unimaginable to some, they spend their days going on following clues to come up with something, and they are also tasked to find out things that are crucial for a case. There are even instances wherein results are incomprehensible and do not give relevant findings. That would require the investigator to go back to square one and find another perspective.

It is a reality that the crime scene kit is not only a simple bag of tools that aid the investigative work of the police force. The equipment also holds the unending dedication of police to the task they are given. As a future police lieutenant, I may be assigned to investigative work and be tasked to lead a bunch of investigators. If that time may come, I am hopeful that I will be able to give them insights and help in fulfilling our duty of finding out what is necessary for the success of a case.

Today’s Wrap Up:

Commitment to the job is the key to have a fruitful career in police work. One would not be able to survive becoming a police officer if you are not that passionate to serving the public.