Powers On Policing
True Crime
Good day and welcome to Powers on Policing; a podcast devoted to the world of law enforcement and criminal investigations from the perspective and first-hand accounts of and by the professionals who have devoted their lives and careers to making our country a better and safer place for all. My name is Bill Powers and I have been active in the law enforcement community for the past five decades. To borrow a phrase, “I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two.” Working together with my partner Jordan Rich we will present a view of the professions not generally seen or reported on. When you hear an emergency vehicle’s siren grow near or see a uniformed police officer approaching, what are your thoughts? I doubt they cause you to break into a smile, not because of the officer, but because of what they represent. Unfortunately, In the overwhelming amount of encounters the reasons for meeting are not pleasant or positive. Could be there has been an accident with injuries and you were involved or were a witness. Maybe a crime was committed, and you were the victim, or someone is being arrested and you are frightened. Sometimes it is a simple traffic stop and you are getting dinged for a speeding violation. Or perhaps it was a worst case scenario and they are on your doorstop delivering the kind of news that no one wants to hear. Have you ever stopped to consider that the person you are facing is just like you. A human being with a family and friends and feelings with similar beliefs and values. They aren’t the heartless mechanical automatons portrayed in all phases of media, but real people who took an oath of office to serve and protect you and your families from harm. They are the ones that willingly run towards harm while others flee to safety. They are the ones you pray can bring calm to chaos; and they almost always do! The primary objective of our podcast is to shed light on and explore the multi-layered and wide-ranging phases of policing and criminal investigations. Along the way we will also offer an inside look at the collaborations formed between agencies and businesses to fight and solve crime. For example: • We will discuss and explore the work of criminal investigators, crime scene specialists and forensic scientists. • We will look at the roles and responsibilities of coroners and medical examiners and talk about how they are able to determine the cause and manner of someone’s death • We will venture into the courtroom and explore the work of judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Think of our time together as a multi-faceted citizens academy; except on steroids. Along the way, we will also delve into related topics about leadership, community policing, current issues in policing etc. And maybe spend a few episodes speaking with true crime and mystery writers about their methods for researching and writing a short story or novel. Thank you for coming with us on our ride-along. and we promise you won’t be disappointed. Some stuff that may be better used as another time. Why now... for too long police have not had a voice in the narrative and it is the right time and place to re-write much of what has been written and give the listener a view from the police side of the yellow crime scene tape. Over the past few years, the general media portrayal of police has turned negative. It seems like news reporters often operating with limited knowledge but making plenty of assumptions about the why and what of the incident, depict the police press reports with skepticism and their actions are questioned as though they were being interrogated about why they took the action they did … Because the media and special interest groups have been dominating and controlling the narrative the police voice or version of the events has been lost in the noise.
Location:
United States
Genres:
True Crime
Description:
Good day and welcome to Powers on Policing; a podcast devoted to the world of law enforcement and criminal investigations from the perspective and first-hand accounts of and by the professionals who have devoted their lives and careers to making our country a better and safer place for all. My name is Bill Powers and I have been active in the law enforcement community for the past five decades. To borrow a phrase, “I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two.” Working together with my partner Jordan Rich we will present a view of the professions not generally seen or reported on. When you hear an emergency vehicle’s siren grow near or see a uniformed police officer approaching, what are your thoughts? I doubt they cause you to break into a smile, not because of the officer, but because of what they represent. Unfortunately, In the overwhelming amount of encounters the reasons for meeting are not pleasant or positive. Could be there has been an accident with injuries and you were involved or were a witness. Maybe a crime was committed, and you were the victim, or someone is being arrested and you are frightened. Sometimes it is a simple traffic stop and you are getting dinged for a speeding violation. Or perhaps it was a worst case scenario and they are on your doorstop delivering the kind of news that no one wants to hear. Have you ever stopped to consider that the person you are facing is just like you. A human being with a family and friends and feelings with similar beliefs and values. They aren’t the heartless mechanical automatons portrayed in all phases of media, but real people who took an oath of office to serve and protect you and your families from harm. They are the ones that willingly run towards harm while others flee to safety. They are the ones you pray can bring calm to chaos; and they almost always do! The primary objective of our podcast is to shed light on and explore the multi-layered and wide-ranging phases of policing and criminal investigations. Along the way we will also offer an inside look at the collaborations formed between agencies and businesses to fight and solve crime. For example: • We will discuss and explore the work of criminal investigators, crime scene specialists and forensic scientists. • We will look at the roles and responsibilities of coroners and medical examiners and talk about how they are able to determine the cause and manner of someone’s death • We will venture into the courtroom and explore the work of judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Think of our time together as a multi-faceted citizens academy; except on steroids. Along the way, we will also delve into related topics about leadership, community policing, current issues in policing etc. And maybe spend a few episodes speaking with true crime and mystery writers about their methods for researching and writing a short story or novel. Thank you for coming with us on our ride-along. and we promise you won’t be disappointed. Some stuff that may be better used as another time. Why now... for too long police have not had a voice in the narrative and it is the right time and place to re-write much of what has been written and give the listener a view from the police side of the yellow crime scene tape. Over the past few years, the general media portrayal of police has turned negative. It seems like news reporters often operating with limited knowledge but making plenty of assumptions about the why and what of the incident, depict the police press reports with skepticism and their actions are questioned as though they were being interrogated about why they took the action they did … Because the media and special interest groups have been dominating and controlling the narrative the police voice or version of the events has been lost in the noise.
Language:
English
Website:
https://blubrry.com/1475035/
Email:
dthibeault59@gmail.com
Episodes
“Closure” and “Finality” Ring Hollow with Victim’s Families
8/28/2025
Bryan Kohberger’s lifesaving plea has been accepted and he now resides in the care and custody of the Idaho corrections system. Presumably, for the rest of his life. He was not asked, nor did he volunteer a statement with an explanation or motive for the attacks, nor did he disclose the whereabouts of the weapon(s) and/or other evidence, nor did he offer any apologies or comfort to the surviving family members. He only said he was guilty and the prosecutor and judge took him at his word.
The prosecutor and the trial judge are on record saying this outcome will bring some form of finality for the victims’ families and allow them to begin to move forward with their lives. In this episode, we address the shortsightedness of imagining there is ever finality to a highly publicized case in either courts of law or the court of public opinion.
Bill explains that while Kohberger promised to never appeal the decision, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled a short seven years ago that the 6th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right to an appeal even where a defendant waived that right as part of his plea agreement. Ironically in that case, SCOTUS overruled the Idaho Supreme Court who had previously denied the defendant his right to appeal. Bill addresses several legal scenarios where an appeal(s) could still be possible, if not probable, for Kohberger.
We look ahead and discuss the increasing media intensity that has been present from the moment the four victims were discovered in their off-campus housing early on a Sunday morning. This was never a local story, but one that was featured on national and international news platforms from the gruesome beginning through Kohberger’s sentencing. Now that previously withheld information and documentation have been released and the people with direct and indirect involvement in the investigation and prosecution are free to speak to the media, the doors have opened wide to the legions of people who want to question, speculate, and opine about the entire process. Similarly, the “experts” are lining up to offer their presumptions and opinions. Books and magazine articles are being written, movies and documentaries are already in production, podcasts and blogs dedicated to True Crime and psycho killers are churning out new episodes daily.
There is no chance or hope for finality to this story, and honestly there never was! The devastating and lasting impact this will have on the families and the Moscow community will play out over the coming years.
Duration:00:38:19
To Live or Die? He was Given a Choice: His Victims Were Not
7/28/2025
In Part 2 of the discussion, Bill addresses how Bryan Kohberger used the Idaho death penalty statute to his advantage and eluded a jury decision that could have resulted in his death by a firing squad.
Idaho, like most states with a death penalty statute relies on a bi-furcated trial system where the juries are tasked with two distinctly different responsibilities; 1) Determine if the defendant is guilty of the criminal charges or not, and if guilty, 2) What is the appropriate punishment in that jurisdiction.
In all but two states with a death penalty statute, the jury delivers the final decision on sentencing, not the trial judge nor a panel of judges.
So, if a defendant chooses to waive their right to a jury trial and pleads guilty before a single justice, their maximum sentence is reduced to a life in prison.
Bill discusses how Massachusetts negated their death penalty statute in 1984 when their Supreme Judicial Court ruled the law unconstitutional because the majority believed the option of life or death to be coercive in nature and could sway an innocent defendant from their right to a fair trial because of a legitimate fear that if found guilty by a jury, they could be put to death.
We close the segment with a look at the federal laws regarding the death penalty, and highlight a few notorious cases.
Duration:00:23:49
4 Slaughtered in Idaho and Their Killer Pleas for Mercy
7/24/2025
There is no crime as alarming as the report of vicious, unexplained homicide. Multiply that by four, and learn that the victims are all college students and their community is a small town where acts of violence are rare. Add that the victims were butchered with a knife and the killer is unknown, and remains at large.
Bring on the helicopters, cameras and bright lights that always come with intense national media attention. The subsequent intrusion, scrutiny, speculation and judgmental finger-pointing about the investigation, creates an unease and cynicism among the townspeople that makes for an explosive, distrustful environment.
Listen in as Bill and Jordan discuss the investigation into the mass murder in Moscow Idaho, and the successful, “under the radar” investigation that resulted in the arrest of Bryan Kohberger six weeks later at his home in Pennsylvania.
Duration:00:33:38
Do I need a Search Warrant? Let’s talk about it!
6/10/2025
The 4th Amendment protects people from “unreasonable searches” by government officials. All other searches require a search warrant. How does a judge determine what is reasonable and what is not, and when is a warrant required to search? In the 1967 decision of Katz vs the United States, SCOTUS developed a seemingly simple test: Does the person(s) have a “reasonable expectant right of privacy”? A simple test that is part objective and part subjective with many factors to be considered.
In this episode Bill discusses the two-prong test and gives examples of several situations that police confront with some regularity. For example, Is the potential evidence in plain view? Is all of a person’s land protected or are their limits? Is it in a common area where others have a right to be present? When trash is bagged for disposal, is it reasonable for the owner to expect that they retain privacy rights all the way to the transfer station?
Jordan and Bill end this episode by opening a wider discussion about the rules governing “Terry Stops” and pat frisks. Stay tuned!
Duration:00:30:54
Search and Seizure and the Rules that Govern the Process
5/27/2025
In this episode, Bill and Jordan begin a thorough examination into the complex subject and nature of investigative searches and seizures.
The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents government officials from conducting “unreasonable searches and seizures”. Under general circumstances, the laws of each state require there be a warrant, approved and signed by a judge or clerk of court, before any search and/or seizure of a person or their property can be performed.
In most prosecutions, searches and/or seizures that resulted in the gathering of critical pieces of evidence are a primary point of contention both in pre-trial hearings and during a criminal trial. In reviewing the pertinent circumstances that led to the recovery of evidence, the court first considers whether the defendant had an “expectant right of privacy” in the area that was searched? If it is determined they did, then the follow-up concern is whether there was a need for a search warrant, or could the prosecutor demonstrate that the search met an exception to the warrant requirement established through previously established caselaw?
Bill closes out the episode with an explanation of the Exclusionary Rule created by the Supreme Court in the case of Mapp vs Ohio (1961). This landmark decision effectively prevents any ill-gotten evidence from being presented to a jury at trial.
Duration:00:18:38
Evidence: The Focus is on Quality not Quantity
4/23/2025
The “weight of evidence” in a criminal trial does not refer to quantity. It is about the relevancy, credibility and persuasiveness to convince one side’s argument over the other. It is about the strength and reliability of what is presented, and the overall impact, not the total number of pieces of evidence presented.
In this episode Bill and Jordan delve into what is, what isn’t, and what may be accepted as evidence by a judge at trial. They talk about hearsay evidence, and why it is generally prohibited because of the Best Evidence Rule, but they also highlight a few of the legally recognized exceptions to the rule. They also address witness testimony and point out some of the considerations by both the prosecution and the defense in selecting the right people to present critical information at trial.
Listen in to the discussion, and, if you are left with questions or concerns about the episode, please address them in the comments section of www.powersonpolicing.com, and we will highlight and discuss them in our next episode.
Duration:00:20:20
Meaning of Evidence
4/10/2025
Bill and Jordan return after a short winter break and pick up where they left off. Opening with a short recap of the last two episodes, they speak of the differing roles and responsibilities of first responders at crime scenes. Bill offers some insight into their reactions to the unique and unexpected realities presented with each event and crime scene.
Criminal investigations and prosecutions boil down to whether there is enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime or crimes were committed and the individual or people on trial committed or were somehow connected to the crimes. All of the information gathered during the investigation may be deemed critical to proving or disproving the criminal charges, but the judge, acting as the “gatekeeper” determines whether the pieces are relevant, have probative value and are obtained in a lawful manner? Bill explains the legal process that leads to the judge’s rulings.
Listen as Bill clarifies a few legal definitions regarding evidence and explains why and how the road from initial discovery to a presentation before a jury is long, winding, and arduous. The process is complex and before any judicial rulings are made, the information must first be vetted through many sources including, the Rules of Evidence, the Rules of the Court, the Rules of Criminal Procedure, criminal statutes and current caselaw. Literally, several thousand pages of collective information, much of which is in a constant stage of review and updating.
Duration:00:26:06
Initial Cares and Concerns at a Crime Scene
11/29/2024
Nothing elevates a police officer’s blood pressure quicker than a radio call dispatching them to a potentially violent crime scene. Thoughts of a swift and safe arrival are quickly overridden with cares and concerns of what they may encounter on arrival, and how they may best deal with all of it.
Listen as Bill and Jordan discuss a wide-ranging and endless list of potential scenarios and police and other first-responder actions. Bill details and explains the reasons for establishing early, but ever-changing priorities that range from medical care to crime scene preservation, and initial location of victims and witnesses. All reactionary, but with a constant focus on the legal considerations and protections that guide an investigation and allow it to move forward toward an arrest and prosecution.
Duration:00:28:35
How Policing Works
11/20/2024
Characterizing someone based solely on their choice of clothing says more about you than it does them. This is especially true when talking about police officers who dress for work in a distinct, identifying uniform prescribed, designed, and mandated by the authority who employs them. The uniform defines the profession, not the person wearing it.
In today’s episode Bill and Jordan begin with general thoughts and comments about police officers and their responsibilities. Bill addresses situational awareness and police training designed to teach an officer how and when to adapt and adjust to differing circumstances that arise with little or no expectation, or understanding. They discuss the importance of preparedness and readiness and how personal encounters often turn from calm to violent without notice. Their comments explain why an officer cannot be defined or separated in simple terms such as warrior or guardian. The profession demands a necessary blend of both. Bill explains how officers continue to grow and improve as they develop and hone their people skills in both the classroom and the arena of everyday real life.
Transitioning into a conversation about the legal system, Bill talks about the operational parameters established by caselaw, statute law, the rules of evidence and court and criminal procedure. In short, a police officer responding to a call for help is expected to arrive safely, render medical aid, identify, and protect the crime scene(s), locate witnesses and possibly make an arrest all the while understanding and conforming to the legal rules for each task while operating in the heat and tension of the moment with no time-outs to stop and think through what they are called to do.
Duration:00:30:39
The Distinctions between Criminal and Civil Law and Why they Matter
10/17/2024
Have you ever considered or been curious about the substantial differences in the standard of proof in a criminal vs. civil court action? Why does one require the heavier burden of proof of “beyond a reasonable doubt” and the other simply a finding of a “preponderance of the evidence”? Likewise, why are the rules for the admission of evidence in a criminal trial stricter than they are in a civil action? In this episode Bill Powers talks about the distinctions between the two and explains the judicial reasoning behind them.
Jordan and Bill continue to explain the procedural groundwork that applies in all criminal cases by sorting through the collection of individual rights afforded to all people through the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Finally, Bill provides some insight into the Rules of Evidence and how they guide the judge and the attorney’s as to what is admissible for presentation to a jury and what is not.
Duration:00:20:50
CI Focus Series 1: You Want the Truth? I’ll Tell You the Truth
10/10/2024
This week’s episode is the first in an all-encompassing series of conversations about criminal investigations and criminal court proceedings. The information provided throughout the series will be thorough, exhaustive, and accurate. Each episode will follow the progress of criminal cases from the reported criminal act through a police investigation, into the criminal court system and end with a jury verdict and the potential appellate reviews. These discussions are honest, accurate and long overdue!
It becomes more evident every day that much of the information spread through the so-called court of public opinion is at best inaccurate and oftentimes purposefully distorted with half-truths and innuendo. Too often the information is not substantiated but is still allowed to go unchecked or unverified and is presented as factual, and subsequently confirmed to be true through both mainstream and social media platforms.
The result of the series will be an extensive audio reference guide that will serve as a primer on criminal investigations and legal procedure. It is cost free and available to anyone who wishes to listen and learn from a knowledgeable professional with more than fifty years of experience in the law enforcement and legal arenas.
This first installment in the series opens with a short overview and explanation of why police take a slow and methodical approach to documenting a reported crime scene and at the same time protecting and preserving the area for the recovery of potential evidence. As an investigation moves forward, decisions must be made on several fronts. For example, is there probable cause to search areas of concern? Is there a need for a search warrant issued by a court, or can the police legally proceed without one? Similarly, questions arise about probable cause to detain and/or arrest a person of interest. These are fundamental but crucial concerns in the everyday work of a police investigator. Even a minor mistake may eliminate the use of crucial and damning information at a defendant’s trial.
Duration:00:26:10
1st Amendment and the Freedoms of Expression
5/23/2024
The encouragement and allowance of peaceful protest and free speech is a cornerstone of the United States Constitution and is solidified in the First Amendment. Our nation was created from political dispute with England, and angry protests and fiery speeches energized the rebellion. Now, almost 250 years later, political disputes, speeches and demonstrations are once again front and center.
Like all freedoms, there are rules and parameters to be followed and require close judicial scrutiny. Every demonstration and/or speech has unique characteristics, and the behavior of the crowd and the speakers must conform to the established rules or result in sanctions or at times arrest.
In this episode, Bill and Jordan discuss the significance of the First Amendment and how historic court rulings protect the rights of groups and individuals but also balance them against the rights of all citizens. For example, they forbid speech that threatens violence or incites imminent violence or destruction of property (Clear and Present Danger speech). Similarly, they set limits on the right to demonstrate by allowing government entities to set “time, place and manner” restrictions, but they also tell government officials that their decisions must be “content neutral” and can’t favor one group over another because of their beliefs and ideology.
Duration:00:41:03
The Trial and the Defense of Insanity
5/2/2024
This episode concludes the discussion about the mass murder in Wakefield MA. on December 26, 2001. Previously, Jordan and Bill led listeners through an exhaustive examination of the investigative process and the legal challenges that led up to the trial of Commonwealth vs. Michael “Mucko” McDermott.
Today they focus on the trial in general and distinguish the differences in trial methods and process when a defendant offers a defense of Insanity. Listen as Bill describes the jury selection, the in-person viewing of three relevant locations and the prosecution’s trial testimony. Regardless of the defense, the prosecution still had to prove 7 counts of Murder in the First Degree beyond a reasonable doubt.
The defense of Insanity requires expert medical testimony that concludes with a medical opinion that the defendant was either substantially unable to appreciate the criminality or wrongfulness of their conduct, or, they were substantially unable to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law. The prosecution is given the opportunity to rebut the defense with testimony from their own medical experts.
The defense in this case differed dramatically from most because McDermott testified in an effort to convince the jurors of his insanity.
Duration:00:47:25
Trial Preparation and the Legal Process
4/25/2024
A defendant always has the presumption of innocence, and the prosecution always carries the burden of proving their case “beyond a reasonable doubt”. The burden is high because the stakes are as well. In a murder conviction, the defendant could lose their freedom for the remainder of their natural life. So, the preparation work leading up to a trial is enormous and needs to be on point.
In this week’s episode Jordan and Bill discuss the process leading up to a trial, beginning with the thoroughness and required documentation of every step of the investigation. They speak about the presentment of evidence to the Grand Jury and the criminal indictments and the move to Superior Court. They address the mandatory exchange of an often enormous amount of discovery materials between the prosecutor and the defense counsel and how that information becomes the basis of trial motions and hearings that determine what evidence and information will be allowed during the trial.
The murder case against Michael McDermott, while seemingly iron-clad, takes a turn when the defense advises the trial judge they intend to pursue the affirmative defense of Insanity. Now the prosecution must not only prove the murder charges against McDermott but also defend against the claim that he was “substantially unable to appreciate the criminality or wrongfulness of his conduct” and/or that he was “substantially unable to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law”.
Duration:00:29:42
Crime Scene Processing and Executing Search Warrants
4/18/2024
We continue our review of the mass murder in Wakefield and focus on the importance of protecting the crime scene in the original condition, preserving it from additional contamination, before documenting and meticulously collecting all of the evidence for additional testing at the crime lab and beyond.
Bill addresses the strict judicial interpretations of the 4th Amendment regarding search and seizure, and he explains when, where and why a search warrant is required. He also mentions the limited exceptions to the requirement and how they factored into their decisions in this case. The process is tedious but necessary if the prosecution wants to later admit their findings at a trial.
We close with information about what was seized in the searches and how the information assisted in determining the next steps of the investigation.
Duration:00:26:04
Managing a Large Scale Investigation and Crime Scene
4/11/2024
Every death investigation presents unforeseen and unpredictable issues and complications. Each requires immediate, but considered decision making to restore order and safety, preserve the crime scene(s), summon the needed practitioners to assist, all the while keeping out those folks that aren’t central to the investigation. Only then can the next steps be determined and prioritized to move the investigation forward.
In this episode we return to the scene of the mass murder in Wakefield MA on 12/26/2000. Jordan and Bill discuss the difficulties of managing a large-scale investigation made more complicated by environmental and logistical issues that resulted in heartbreaking and less than optimum results.
The topic of crisis leadership is also examined as Bill speaks to the extraordinary personal and professional response to the tragedy by the executive team at Edgewater Technology. It is a story of care and compassion that should serve as a benchmark for all businesses to follow.
Duration:00:27:57
Investigation and Prosecution of a Mass Murder in Wakefield MA -Part 1
3/28/2024
Every homicide investigation and prosecution is unique and, while there may be similarities to other cases, no two are ever identical. An often-quoted legal principle states “Each case turns on its own facts.”
Some cases rely on direct evidence like the defendant’s fingerprints or DNA on the murder weapon or testimony from a surviving victim or eyewitness about their observations. Other cases are built in a circumstantial manner where there may be dozens of pieces of information that alone may prove little but taken together in their entirety can prove the case against the defendant “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
In this episode we begin a discussion about a mass murder in the town of Wakefield MA. where seven innocent people had their lives taken at the hands of an irrational co-worker. This case presents in a hybrid manner with direct evidence used to prove the murders, but circumstantial evidence and expert testimony necessary to push back and defeat a defense of Insanity.
Duration:00:26:19
Applying Technical and Scientific Advances to Criminal Investigations and the Courtroom Challenges they Present
3/21/2024
Growing technological and scientific improvements and their application and benefit in criminal investigations has been extraordinary and at times mind-boggling. But, with the changes come legal, evidentiary challenges to the technology, the science behind it and the expertise of the scientists who test and evaluate the results. Court decisions are definitive and swift and can often change the course of an investigation and prosecution the moment the decision is released.
Listen in to this conversation with Jordan, Bill and their guest, Jimmy Connolly, as they discuss the history of change from when they started out as detectives in the late 70’s and 80’s through today. Jimmy refers to it as transitioning from the days of the “leather footprint” to today’s digital imprint.” They address the importance and acceptance of DNA as evidence, but also speak about how DNA results have shed light on eyewitness identifications, resulting in major changes in police procedures to insure fairness and accuracy in witness identifications. They also discuss the introduction of audio-video taped statements in interrogations and how what initially appeared to be a negative has turned out to be very positive for the police and prosecutors. Similarly, they speak to the advantages of body and dash-cams as tools that often remove doubts with judges and juries about the events that police relied on to bring criminal charges.
Bill and Jimmy rose in rank but stayed in their assignments in the detective unit. They discuss the transition from playing a subordinate role in a case to assuming the position of leader and decision-maker. As always, it is about what is best for the team and not necessarily the individual.
Duration:00:31:47
A Candid Discussion on Becoming and Evolving as a Homicide Investigator
3/15/2024
Today’s episode launches a new chapter in our podcast series. For the foreseeable future, the focus will be on the investigation and prosecution of homicide cases. Listen as we walk you through a series of cases, taking you from the arrival at a crime scene, through the trial preparation and prosecution of the case.
Bill, and our guests, are practitioners with decades of experience and most often first-hand knowledge of the cases they will discuss. They will define the investigative and legal process as well as the rational reasoning that goes into their decision-making. They will also explain how and why legal precedents and evidentiary rulings guide and control the flow of the cases from the very beginning.
Our first guest is James (Jimmy) Connolly, a retired Major from the Massachusetts State Police, and the current Director of Public Safety at a large university in downtown Boston. During his diverse and lengthy career Jimmy spent more than 20 years as an investigator, supervisor of cases and unit commander in the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office in Cambridge, MA. Upon promotion to the rank of Major he was assigned as the Director of the State Crime Laboratory. Jimmy’s experience and assignments allow him to talk about case development from a few different perspectives.
Duration:00:28:02
INVESTIGATIONS
12/5/2023
Join us in this first episode of a new chapter as we transition from a general overview of policing in America today, to an in-depth look at criminal investigations.
In many instances the witness interviews and evidence present in a simple, straight-forward manner and result in a quick arrest and prosecution. In other cases, the preliminary information and evidence may be lacking or in dispute, requiring a larger and more in-depth investigation. The bigger the challenge, the more rewarding when the case is solved, and results in a conviction. Listen as Bill explains the practical and legal process that is present in all investigations and why a holistic, overall team approach is needed to solve and prosecute a case. The burden always falls on the prosecution team to prove the case against the defendant “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Learn many of the ways that investigative teams approach and meet that legal obligation.
Duration:00:20:23