Police Detectives: Seeking the Truth vs. Crafting a Narrative for Prosecution

As a police detective, the primary focus is on uncovering the truth, a process that involves gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing information to determine what truly happened in a case. This commitment to truthfulness is essential, as it ensures that justice is served. Constraining our narrative goals to only those that align with factual evidence collected during the investigation is key. The ultimate goal is not to confuse the legal process with subjective or misleading storytelling, but rather to provide a clear and concise account that adheres to the truth.

The Importance of Factual Evidence

Police detectives are supposed to find the facts. It is left to the prosecutors to make these facts convincing in the courtroom. However, when trying to determine the facts, getting too caught up in a narrative can sometimes cloud judgment. One might interpret all the facts through a specific narrative, which can lead to the misinterpretation or ignoring of other critical facts. This has unfortunately happened in several instances where a single suspect was intensely focused on, and valuable time was wasted on a false lead, resulting in missed opportunities to gather evidence on the real culprit.

The Truth as the Best Fit for Facts

The truth, simply because it is the best fit for the facts available, is essential. Any other narrative or interpretation will show gaps, inconsistencies, or will just not make sense in the context of the available evidence. I often have to remind those I interview that my goal is the truth, regardless of how seemingly odd, embarrassing, or peculiar it may be. Most people tend to tell you what they think you want to hear either to please or because they believe that is expected of them. The truth, on the other hand, fosters a more accurate and reliable narrative that supports a strong case for prosecution.

Creating an Accessible and Clear Narrative

When creating a case summary, it is crucial to make it as plain and straightforward as possible. This is because the decision-makers, such as judges, juries, magistrates, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, should be able to understand and process the narrative easily. A complex financial fraud, for example, should not require the listener or reader to spend hours or days unraveling every detail. Instead, the narrative should be broken down into bite-sized, easily digestible information.

This approach is similar to how people naturally learn new skills. For instance, students learning in college are expected to understand complex concepts quickly and efficiently. I would advise some of my student officers to read the tabloids, particularly the short, side stories where space is limited. These concise stories are a masterclass in packing a basic outline of a story into a few sentences. By reading and applying this skill, they can develop a clear and coherent narrative that remains true to the facts.

By focusing on establishing the truth in our investigations, we empower the legal system to deliver justice effectively. This commitment to absolute truthfulness in every aspect of the process ensures that our work contributes positively to the outcome, rather than potentially leading us down a path of misinterpretation or bias. In doing so, we create a stronger foundation for prosecution, making our cases more robust and just.

Therefore, the role of a police detective is to seek the truth, and let the narrative tailored for prosecution naturally emerge from the facts. This approach not only honors the integrity of the investigative process but also increases the likelihood of achieving a fair and just outcome for all.