Police Investigations 101
Guidance from Shakespeare’s Plays and other literary works
Justice Gilles Renaud [Retired] | Ontario Court of Justice
INDEX
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- William Deverell’s career saw him prosecute several prominent cases, including appeals[1], and defending scores of defendants in leading cases at all levels of court. But, his success as a litigator is now obscured by his fame as a writer. Writing dozens of highly acclaimed legal novels will do that for your reputation! If you have not had the pleasure of reading one of his books, please go to the library, the bookstore or one of those computer sites that permits you to have this, and other great titles, in your hands overnight. Indeed, anyone wishing to make the best of an otherwise dull flight, or train trip or long wait, should obtain one of his books and read for hours of pleasure. Moreover, if you are a litigation lawyer, I suggest that you keep a pencil handy, as I do, and underline every useful illustration of trial tactics, cross-examination, and instruction on human nature, not to overlook the means of “judging” judges, lawyers, police officers and witnesses in general, that his writings provide in abundance.
- In addition, since his books generally follow the ordained dénouement of a successful defence, they are quite useful to prosectors wishing to understand fully tactics that their colleagues might employ. This book, Kill All the Lawyers, [Ballantine Books, Toronto, 1995], is no different from other “whodunits” and perhaps is better than most other titles penned by defence lawyers in Canada. Of course, the title reminds us of the classic passage from Henry the Sixth, Part Two, Act IV, sc. ii, ll. 76-77, and this book is my favorite of all the great titles flowing from Mr. Deverell’s skilled pen. Why? Because it includes a fascinating “story within the story”[2] of how to write the great Canadian crime novel.[3] I cannot tell you more as to the intrigue without marring the challenge you face in attempting to unravel the identity of the killer(s), but the paragraphs that follow will provide a thematic guide to the lessons for Crown litigators that the author provides together with laughs, adult entertainment and lessons in psychology that are invaluable at all stages of our careers.
Kill all the Lawyers
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- This is the third article dedicated to the instruction police officers may gain from a study of the fictional cases of this great Belgian detective, the most talented in Europe according to his own modest assessment. As he noted in the short story “The Chocolate Box”, "… I, who have undoubtedly the finest brain in Europe at present …” Indeed, the character of Poirot is famous for his belief that all crime is solved by use of the “little grey cells”. Of note, Hercule was seen at the start of his career as a charming and bon-vivant type of investigator who would not look through a magnifying glass or examine the ground for clues, in stark contrast to Sherlock Holmes’ dark and brooding personality and fondness for collecting blood samples. Poirot’s sidekick is Captain Hastings who writes of their adventures as did Dr. Watson, Holmes’ confidant and partner. Together the Poirot-Hastings team solved numerous crimes in the context of fifty-one short stories, the main interest for our proposed series of studies on police work.
Poirot Adventures, 11 to 15
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- The British writer G.K. Chesterton wrote more than fifty detective stories featuring a most improbable investigator, a Roman Catholic priest invariably referred to as Father Brown. This diminutive and apparently unremarkable prelate combined his knowledge of human nature, gained from serving his poor parishioners including a criminal underclass, with a logical and disciplined mind resulting from his rigorous religious studies. Indeed, as he modestly notes from time to time, one learns a lot about crime and those who engage in this conduct in the confessional and when visiting parishioners in custody. Father Brown is rigorous in his incisive analysis of the anti-social events that he encounters seemingly every day of his life, but never rigid in extending compassion to those who have erred in their conduct, always desirous of bringing them back into the embrace of their community. But, first, he must examine the clues the police overlooked or misunderstood, solve the crime, to then return to his quite life of a small parish, calling forth investigative skills still relevant today in this age of DNA, AI and technologically based forensic sleuthing of every kind.
- It is this skill as a detective that commands attention in this article, and I seek to review the guidance for investigators found in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth of Chesterton’s short stories. They are entitled “The Honour of Israel Gow”, “The Wrong Shape”, “The Sins of Prince Saradine, “The Hammer of God” and “The Eye of Apollo”, all written in 1910 or early 1911. Recall that the first five of Chesterton’s short stories featuring Father Brown, published in 1910 and 1911, nd discussed previously, dealt with the adventures titled “The Blue Cross”, “The Secret Garden”, “The Queer Feet”, “The Flying Stars” and “The Invisible Man”.
- I follow below the format I have adopted in my prior similar writings seeking instruction for modern detectives from the fiction featuring Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, as posted in Blue Line magazine and Mack’s Criminal Law. Of note, the valuable lessons are grouped within thematic discussions involving demeanour evidence, human nature, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations. In sum, I suggest that modern-day investigators can gain valuable insights from this great fictional investigator as to what to do and what not to do, as well as enjoying several good stories.
Father Brown
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- The character of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s great Belgian detective, is well known and famous for his moustache and belief that all crime is solved by use of the “little grey cells”. He was seen at the start of his career as a charming and bon-vivant type of investigator, in stark contrast to Sherlock Holmes’ dark and brooding personality. His sidekick is Captain Hastings, and unlike Dr. Watson, Holmes’ confidant and partner, we often read some slight criticisms by Hercule of Hastings, leading to remarks such as we find in “The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan (1)”, “… Poirot is sometimes a little inclined to underestimate my mental capacities…” Nonetheless, together they solved numerous crimes in the context of forty short stories. This article seeks to examine five of the first such adventures, published over a century ago in March and April of 1923, and now in the public domain.
Hercule Poirot
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- This is the latest article meant to provide guidance to investigators based on the writings of Sir Arthur on the detective work of the fabled Sherlock Holmes.[1] The Case Book is a collection of short stories involving Holmes that completes the last of Conan Doyle’s five short story collections. To be precise, some 44 adventures appeared in the earlier works, entitled “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes and the Return of Sherlock Holmes with only the second last, “The Last Bow”, not also referencing the great detective’s name.
- My objective is to help the police to achieve success in their investigations, which may include a finding that no crime took place or that the wrong person has been the subject of the inquiries. In this context, allow me to quote from “The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier” wherein Holmes admits that if you are to write anything to provide information to others, “that the matter must be presented in such a way as may interest the reader. I humbly hope that today as in my prior contributions, valuable lessons are being offered that will both interest and instruct readers whose function it is to serve and protect the community. New readers must understand that it is my habit to group within thematic discussions relevant quotes and information about demeanour evidence, human nature, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
- In sum, I suggest that modern-day investigators can gain valuable insights from this great investigator last cases and, as well, enjoy several good yarns.
The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Coriolanus that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, human nature, judgment in investigations, professionalism and other themes.
Coriolanus
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Timon of Athens that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, human nature and judgment in investigations.
Timon of Athens
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play King Richard the Third, featuring a despotic tyrant who killed without hesitation, that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, human nature, judgment in investigations, professionalism and other themes. In sum, my hope is that investigators who review these articles will gain insight into basic psychology and will improve their skills in detective work “by the books”, just different ones from the Police Foundations and Police colleges. In that context, I quote from the play Titus Andronicus at Act 4, sc. i, l. 34: “… But thou art deeper read, and better skill'd …” This play includes this relevant passage, at Act 1, sc. i, l. 53: “CLARENCE … but as I can learn …”
King Richard the Third
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Titus Andronicus that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, human nature, judgment in investigations, professionalism and other themes. In sum, my hope is that investigators who review these articles will gain insight into basic psychology and will improve their skills in detective work “by the books”, just different ones from the Police Foundations and Police colleges. In that context, I quote from the play at Act 4, sc. i, l. 34:
Titus Adronicus
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Henry the Fourth (Part 2) that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, human nature, judgment in investigations, professionalism and other themes.
- This play includes the well-known phrase, “KING … Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown”, at Act 3, sc. i, l. 30, but the reader must understand that if we understand that reference to refer to the Government attempting to advance the public interest, including safeguarding the public from harm, a duty that is daunting, your contributions as peace officers serve to reduce that uneasiness.
Henry the 4th, Part II
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Cymbeline that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, human nature and judgment in investigations.
Cymbeline
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Troilus and Cressida, that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, human nature, interviewing skills and judgment. I do not suggest that reading plays will make you better detectives, but I do suggest that reading articles such as this provides a focused understanding of various elements of what forms basic psychology and that knowledge makes us all better citizens, parents, students, spouses and observers of those around us.
Troilus and Cressida
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- This is the latest article meant to provide guidance to investigators based on the writings of Sir Arthur on the work of Sherlock Holmes.[1] As in the prior contributions, my objective is to set out valuable lessons from this collection of short stories grouped within thematic discussions, and to provide further insights from the two short stories already featured from this collection. I suggest that modern-day investigators can gain valuable insights from this great investigator and, as well, enjoy several good yarns.
- All of police investigations may be reduced to the simple question, posed by Sherlock Holmes in “The Reigate Squires”: “No clue?” It is the search for clues, for information, for evidence, etc., that dominates both fiction about detective work and the work of detectives. In addition, it seems obvious that in their fact-finding mission, investigators must rank information by value or importance. As noted by Holmes in the same story later, “It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognise, out of several facts, which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise, your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated…” Having introduced the subject matter of this document, I now turn to the various themes to be discussed.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Macbeth that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, human nature and judgment in investigations.
Macbeth
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer’s-night Dream that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations. As you begin your review, consider that Shakespeare’s lack of respect for the police is seen in this play’s choice of the name Dull to identify a constable.
Lesson’s from a Midsummer-Nights’ Dream
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Pericles, Prince of Tyre that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
Lessons from Pericles
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
Lessons from Twelth Night
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play King John that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
Lessons from King John
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the famous play Hamlet that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
Lessons from Hamlet
Lessons from Measure for Measure
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Measure for Measure that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play Love’s Labour’s Lost that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations. As you begin your review, consider that Shakespeare’s lack of respect for the police is seen in this play’s choice of the name Dull to identify a constable.
Lessons from Love Labour’s Lost
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
Lessons from The Merchant of Venice
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play All’s Well That Ends Well that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work. Briefly stated, the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
Lessons from All’s Well that Ends Well
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play Henry the Sixth (Part 2) that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work.
- By way of full introduction, and to respect limitation of space, I invite the reader to review the opening pages to the prior contribution of the same nature, based on Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew. I need only add that the discussion is organized along broad, thematic lines involving demeanour evidence, interviewing skills, judgment and professionalism in investigations.
Guidance from King Henry VI, Part 2
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- Defence counsel are fond of telling judges: “Absence of evidence is not Evidence of Absence”. I heard this often as a judge in cases involving the search of a home disclosing all the paraphernalia of drug trafficking, but without any hint of unlawful substances ever being in the home. The Crown would argue that this suggests bad luck by the police in that all the narcotics had been disposed of and the new “product” had not yet arrived, prior to the bust. Thus, “the evidence of absence” of something typically found, which suggests criminal conspiracy. The defence response is: “absence of evidence means just that: there is no evidence, and since the prosecution must prove all elements of the crime and as not done so, there is no reason to conclude that anything criminal was at hand, or ever present. This scenario describes a typical defence response to a Crown argument.
- This brief paper discusses the reverse situation: a Defence challenge to a Crown argument that the police complied with the Charter by suggesting that the absence of evidence of proper “training” received by the police is, in fact, evidence of absence of training.
Charter Breaches and Training
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- Erle Stanley Gardner wrote nearly one hundred novels featuring a criminal defence lawyer named Perry Mason who never seemed to have lost a murder trial. His success rested upon his thorough cross-examination of the witnesses, notably the investigating officers, based on detailed preparation, and a sound knowledge of correct police procedures. My objective is to point out the lessons present-day police officers may draw from stories such as the “Deadly Toy”, in terms of adopting the best practices in testifying and in investigating offences, based on my experience in criminal court as a defence counsel, prosecutor or trial judge.
The Case of the Deadly Toy
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- This working paper addresses an issue that arises often in cross-examination: defence suggesting that the officers investigated in accordance with fixed guidelines as opposed to responding to the situation as it arose. In other terms, the officer applied some coaching to the effect of subjectively “rounding up the usual suspects”, the famous phrase uttered at the start of the movie “Casablanca”, as opposed to responding in an objective fashion to objective evidence that might suggest criminal behaviour.
Rounding up the Usual Suspects
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- This short story was published in 1891 and is found in the collection titled The Adventures of Sherlock Homes. By reason of the early and lasting reception of this great fictional character by the reading public, and the signal reputation this detective gained, Sherlock Holmes remains synonymous with excellence, indeed near perfection, in detective work. Until the advent of CSI type entertainment and the fascination with modern forensic evidence, his readers shared the belief that all investigators carried a “magnifying glass” and relied upon extraordinary powers of observation. More than another quality, Sherlock Holmes typified the ideal that a solution to a crime required information and that conclusions were quite premature and highly doubtful until all data had been mined and analysed. In the ultimate analysis, science and not intuition, was the foundation for success in police work.
- The best illustration of this philosophy of investigation is seen in the short story, “A Scandal in Bohemia”, also found in the same collection, in Part I. The relevant passage follows, quoting his confidant and best friend, Dr. Watson, who asked Holmes:
- “This is indeed a mystery,” I remarked. “What do you imagine that it means?” “I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. … [Emphasis added]
- My objective in analyzing this short story is to provide guidance to police officers and especially detectives working in 2023. The instruction drawn from Sir Arthur’s imagination serves to illustrate current elements of controversy in detective work notably, how to identity a suspect. And, no less valuable, the short story offer insights into controversies touching upon demeanour evidence and the exercise of judgment including understanding human nature.
A Case of Identity
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- I have often found that lessons on advocacy for lawyers are most successful by reference to movies, TV shows and popular fiction, as this form of entertainment is easily retained and often draws valuable lessons based on human nature and basic psychology. The same logic holds for training provided to police officers. Accordingly, in this article, I draw from this wonderfully entertaining book in order to set out a number of valuable lessons for police officers.
Guidance for Police Officers from Anne of Green Gables
Controversies Surrounding the Completeness of Police Officer’s Notes
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- This paper discusses briefly the controversy surrounding the reliability of testimony by police officers in cases in which it is suggested that their notes contain no support (or quite inadequate support) for their evidence. In brief, may a court accept that the suspect fell while stepping out of their vehicle if this is not recorded
- I stress that this paper merely introduces the subject in general terms as each police agency requires certain procedures or policies to be complied with and the case law discussed below contains a number of related issues that are best left for another day.
Lessons from Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play The Merry Wives of Windsor that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely, it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- In this contribution, I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is best achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the classic play Romeo and Juliet that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely, it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- In this contribution, I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is best achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Lessons from Romeo and Juliet
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play Othello that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely, it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- In this contribution, I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is best achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Lessons from Othello
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the classic play King Lear that may result in excellence in investigative work.[2]
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[3] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?[4]
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Lessons from the Merry Wives of Windsor
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play Anthony and Cleopatra that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely, it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- In this contribution, I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by briefly discussing interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, and more expansively the subject of judgment in police word including human nature and fact finding, concluding thereafter with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is best achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Lessons from Anthony and Cleopatra
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the comedy Much Ado About Nothing that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely, it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- In this contribution, I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is best achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from Much Ado about Nothing
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the classic play As You Like It that may result in excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from As you like it
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the classic play Julius Caesar that may result in excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from Julius Caesar
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play King Richard the Second that lead to excellence in investigative work. Most of my comments will be under the general title of “Investigation 101”, inspired by the title of most first-year survey courses in any number of fields of study, often the most valuable of all my classes in my experience.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines and within two broad rubrics: police interviewing techniques and skills, embracing the thorny issue of demeanour evidence and in addition, judgment to be exercised by the police interviewer. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from King Richard the 2nd
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In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play Henry IV (Part 1) that lead to excellence in investigative work.[2] Most of my comments will be under the general title of “Investigation 101”, inspired by the title of most first-year survey courses in any number of fields of study, often the most valuable of all my classes in my experience.
Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from the late Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he cannot all find close around... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[3] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction?[4]
I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines and within three broad rubrics: police interviewing techniques and skills, judgment to be exercised by the police interviewer and, lastly, professionalism in policing. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but so vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from King Henry the 4th
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In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play King Henry the Fifth that lead to excellence in investigative work.[2] Most of my comments will be under the general title of “Investigation 101”, inspired by the title of most first-year survey courses in any number of fields of study, often the most valuable of all the classes in my experience.
Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from the late Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he cannot all find close around... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[3] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction?[4]
Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but so vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part, by analyzing this excellent play and my review is organized along broad thematic lines under three main headings: interviewing skills, judgment displayed in investigations and policing and professionalism.
Guidance from King Henry the 5th
Guidance from The Comedy of Errors
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- In the briefest play penned by William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, the reader is introduced to two sets of twins and the resulting complications not only guarantee a great deal of mirth, but also serve to illustrate how easily an investigation and subsequent prosecution potentially involving one set of twins may be doomed from the outset. Indeed, the various sub-plots involving mistaken identification offer several quite useful illustrations and lessons touching upon the frailties of such evidence, magnified by two, considering the added complexity when two persons typically seen together are, in fact, two groups of twins.
- The plot of the play may be summarised as follows for our purposes. Egeon, a merchant from Syracuse, is the father of twin boys, both of whom are named Antipholus and they are to be served by twin brothers, both of whom also share a name, Dromio. All of them, together with Egeon's wife, are caught in a vicious storm at sea that results in their physical separation. One of the sons and one of the servants settle in Syracuse and are thus known as Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse; the two others take up residence in Ephesus and are described, not surprisingly, as Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus. To add suspense, Egeon is to be killed if he is unable to discharge a debt, and the efforts of his son and of his son's servant to prevent that sentence are thwarted by the actions of their “look a like” who are spending money and contracting debts seemingly without any concerns.
- Thus, police officers should study this play as it provides useful (and memorably funny) instruction on their general duties and about identification evidence, as well as the relative value of the demeanour of potential witnesses, basic psychology, wit and grace in pressure packed situations, not to mention a host of insights into how best to understand human nature. In fact, a very well-respected commentator, George Wilkes, has observed that the play contains great absurdities, and police work often requires the investigators to make sense of illogical or contradictory information.[2] Further, Professor Paul Raffield has written that The Comedy of Errors will assist anyone seeking to understand fully “... dramatic scenarios involving agreements, disagreements, non-agreements and misunderstandings ...”[3] Investigation of crime will, on many occasions, require officers to attempt to draw a bright line as between honest disagreements and misunderstandings, on the one hand, and criminal deceit and exploitation of the weak and vulnerable, on the other. Thus, a study of this play can only serve to assist those who wish to excel at their duties as investigators.
- Investigators succeed in their arduous duties by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from the late Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he cannot all find close around... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[4] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction?[5]
- Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but so vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part, by analyzing this amusing play.
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- I suggest that investigators can profit greatly from reading and re-reading the plays of William Shakespeare and the works of other illustrious writers of fiction. In this vein, Dean Wigmore wrote: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he cannot all find close around... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits."[2] If this advice rings true for lawyers, and it surely is correct, then it rings true no less for police officers who are called upon to solve mysteries by resort to several skills, notably a full understanding of human nature,[3] amongst other elements of our basic condition.
- In this contribution, I review the many benefits for investigators to be drawn from a review of the play The Tempest. Please note that the various points are discussed along narrow thematic lines, in alphabetical order, to enhance the reader’s ability to cross-reference the various points later.[4]
Guidance from The Tempest
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- My broad objective is to assist Canadian investigators to develop further their critical faculties when investigating interpersonal offences that apparently took place over a period and against a background of interactions involving a small group of individuals. The narrow goal is to address critically the evidence of demeanour shown by the various witnesses that police will interview after the crime, to demonstrate the real danger that would-be witnesses will subsequently “assign” a negative form of non-verbal communication to the suspect during the relevant period that mirrors their subjective belief that the suspect was acting in a guilty way throughout. In essence, this contribution serves to warn investigators about the dangers of accepting too readily the guilty facial and bodily cues that the suspect apparently presented prior to the actual offence.
- The short story “Rain” was selected as it contains quite vivid dialogue, replete with images of demeanour evidence, that one can easily examine as if it represented the transcript of interviews of various witnesses.
Guidance from Rain
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play Henry VI (Part I) that lead to excellence in investigative work. Most of my comments will be under the general title of “Investigation 101”, inspired by the title of most first-year survey courses in any number of fields of study, often the most valuable of all my classes in my experience.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from Henry VI
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play King Henry VIII that may result in excellence in investigative work.[2]
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[3] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?[4]
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from Henry VIII
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play King Henry VI (Part 3) that lead to excellence in investigative work.[2]
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[3] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?[4]
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from Henry VI, Part 3
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play The Winter’s Tale that may result in excellence in investigative work.[2]
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[3] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?[4]
- I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from The Winter’s Tale
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from Shakespeare’s play The Two Gentlemen of Verona that lead to excellence in investigative work.[2] Most of my comments will be under the general title of “Investigation - the ABCs of excellence in”. This rubric was inspired by a reference in Act 2, sc. i, l. 19, wherein Speed notes: “… to sigh, like a schoolboy that has lost his A B C …”
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from the late Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he cannot all find close around... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.”[3] If this proposition is sound, and surely it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction?[4]
- Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but so vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is achieved by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from Two Gentlemen of Verona
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- In this article, I document the various elements of guidance and instruction from the play The Taming of the Shrew that may result in enhanced excellence in investigative work.
- Investigators succeed by asking sound and searching questions and my topic might lead to the query: why read a play from centuries ago to become a better police officer today? In response, I quote from Dean John Wigmore, a leading law professor and writer on evidence: "The lawyer must know human nature. He [or she] must deal understandingly with its types and motives. These he [or she] cannot all find close around ... For this learning he [or she] must go to fiction which is the gallery of life's portraits.” If this proposition is sound, and surely, it is, then detectives are in the same situation as lawyers, for they also must understand humanity, flawed and at times violent and or scheming, and why not turn to fiction to accomplish this objective?
- In this contribution, I have organized my thoughts along thematic lines embracing demeanour evidence, followed by interviewing techniques and skills that police officers must acquire and hone, judgment in police word including human nature and concluding with the subject of professionalism. Thus, my goal is to assist investigators to excel in their difficult but vital work in bringing offenders to justice and in helping to exonerate those thought to have offended, whether suspects or already accused. My objective is best achieved, in part at least, by analyzing this excellent play.
Guidance from King Lear