A Case Study Detective Wesley Clark
Connecticut State Police Department
Western District Major Crime Squad This Article originally appeared in Connecticut Trooper Magazine, Fall 1998. The Crime The following case, a car jacking which was reported to the Troop "A" barracks in Southbury, is an actual crime that occurred within the town of Oxford, CT. This case was selected for a case study in Statement Analysis for several reasons, first being the case is closed and it has completed its journey through the court system. Secondly, the statement by the victim reporting the crime contains many points to review, some that are directly related to the actual crime , and others (outside-issues) which come to provide us with insight into the dynamics of the events and relationships of those mentioned within the statement, thus providing us with "the big picture". Thirdly, this case demonstrates how Statement Analysis can be a benefit right though Prosecution of the case. In this particular case, we were able to show the Prosecution who actually had the gun during the crime, (a crucial point for the Prosecution), when there was conflicting testimony between the victim and the suspects regarding that issue. In this case, as it turned out, the victim lied about which of the three suspects actually had the gun. However, the truth did prevail, and Statement Analysis was an important aspect in reaching the truth.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 16:25
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Detective Wesley Clark Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad This article originally appeared in Connecticut Trooper Magazine, Fall 1998. As a member of the law enforcement community for the past twelve years, I have made it my commitment to seek the truth in all matters, personal and professional. During my career I have encountered, as all other police officers throughout the state and country, those individuals who do not necessarily hold tight to the same values when it comes to truth. Though the reasons for this deception may vary, as do the investigations in which they arise, the intent of the subject in question is always the same; to mislead you and/or your investigation. As a detective with an ever-increasing caseload, that is something I am not willing to accept. With Statement Analysis as one additional tool available to you in your pursuit of the truth, you will be able to focus your investigations and reach an accurate conclusion to many cases.
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By Susan H. Adams, M.A. Special Agent Adams teaches statement analysis as part of interviewing and interrogation courses at the FBI Academy. This Article Originally Appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, October 1996. (In statement analysis, investigators examine words, independent of case facts, to detect deception.) Susan Smith stood outside her burgundy sedan and released the parking brake. The car plunged down the ramp into South Carolina's Long Lake, with her sons, Michael, 3, and Alexander, 14 months, strapped into their car seats. To cover her actions, Susan told police that the boys were abducted at gunpoint, launching a nationwide search for the victims and their abductor. During the investigation, Susan tearfully told reporters, "My children wanted me. They needed me. And now I can't help them."1 Yet, the boys' father, David, who believed Susan's story, tried to reassure her by saying: "They're okay. They're going to be home soon."2
By David Vessel, J. D. This article originally appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Oct. 1998, and appears on the internet at http://www.fbi.gov/library/leb/leb.htm. Obtaining information that an individual does not want to provide constitutes the sole purpose of an interrogation. A successful interrogation results in a guilty or involved criminal suspect’s making a confession or admitting participation in an illegal activity. However, interrogators frequently do not acquire information critical to successful case resolution. Often, guilty suspects leave the interrogation environment without making the smallest admission. Many experienced officers leave an interview or interrogation knowingly outwitted b the suspects. When these situations occur, criminals go unpunished and remain free to strike again, causing the entire community to suffer.
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