HomeMy WebLinkAboutEyewitness_Identification_4San Luis Obispo Police Department
Daily Training Bulletin
DTB Date:
Eyewitness Identification
***DRAFT***
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Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
Department
Eyewitness Identification
Topic: Investigations and Enforcement
DTB Date:
SCENARIO:
"I'm impressed. How did you find him that quick?" Officer Miranda Hopper asks Officer
Tony Wheeler.
"C'mon! Do you really need to ask that? I may be old, but I still got it," Officer Wheeler says with
a smirk. "Guess we need to call the victim so we can do a field elimination show-up."
"Yeah, you still got it," Officer Hopper says. "Hope my keen observation skills stay as impressive as
yours when I'm your age. I have one thought though. I don't think we should do a field elimination
show-up. We saw the suspect on video throwing the brick and it's clear this is the guy - same
height, build, and hair length and color. And look at the logo on his shirt. Same one we saw on
video. Not to mention the stolen items we found in his pockets when we arrested him."
ISSUE: Under the circumstances, should the officers conduct a field elimination show-up?
REFER:
610.8 FIELD IDENTIFICATION CONSIDERATIONS
Field identifications, also known as field elimination show-ups or one-on-one identifications, may
be helpful in certain cases, where exigent circumstances make it impracticable to conduct a photo
or live lineup identifications. A field elimination show-up or one-on-one identification should not be
used when independent probable cause exists to arrest a suspect. In such cases a live or photo
lineup is the preferred course of action if eyewitness identification is contemplated.
When initiating a field identification, the member should observe the following guidelines:
(a)Obtain a complete description of the suspect from the witness.
(b)Assess whether a witness should be included in a field identification process by considering:
1.The length of time the witness observed the suspect.
2.The distance between the witness and the suspect.
3.Whether the witness could view the suspect’s face.
4.The quality of the lighting when the suspect was observed by the witness.
5.Whether there were distracting noises or activity during the observation.
6.Any other circumstances affecting the witness’s opportunity to observe the suspect.
7.The length of time that has elapsed since the witness observed the suspect.
(c)If safe and practicable, the person who is the subject of the show-up should not be
handcuffed or in a patrol vehicle.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
Daily Training Bulletin
DTB Date:
Eyewitness Identification
***DRAFT***
2
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
Department
(d)When feasible, members should bring the witness to the location of the subject of the show-
up, rather than bring the subject of the show-up to the witness.
(e)The person who is the subject of the show-up should not be shown to the same witness
more than once.
(f)In cases involving multiple suspects, witnesses should only be permitted to view the subjects
of the show-up one at a time.
(g)The person who is the subject of the show-up should not be required to put on clothing worn
by the suspect, to speak words uttered by the suspect or to perform other actions mimicking
those of the suspect.
(h)If a witness positively identifies a subject of the show-up as the suspect, members should
not conduct any further field identifications with other witnesses for that suspect. In such
instances members should document the contact information for any additional witnesses
for follow up, if necessary.
ANALYSIS:
Officers Wheeler and Hooper viewed a video showing a suspect committing a crime. The
suspect the officers have in custody has the same physical characteristics and clothing
as the one the officers saw on video plus he possessed some of the stolen property when
they arrested him. These facts give the officers probable cause to arrest the suspect they
have in custody. A field elimination show-up is one of many investigative tools we have at
our disposal to help determine if a suspect is involved in a crime. However, when there is
independent probable cause to arrest the suspect, other methods of suspect identification
are preferred.
CONCLUSION:
The officers should not conduct a field elimination show-up.
QUESTION:
Field elimination show-ups should not be conducted when independent probable cause exists to
arrest a suspect.
ANSWERS:
(a)True
(b)False
CORRECT ANSWER:
True