What is the protocol around reporting an incident as a witness?
August 2, 2016 7:55 PM Subscribe
I witnessed an attack on someone earlier today and tried to report it afterwards but was told by the police that they wouldn't make any record of the incident since I didn't call as it was happening or when I was on the scene. Just wondering if this is normal protocol and why they wouldn't want to at least make a record.
I was riding my bike in the city and saw a man punching a woman repeatedly in front of an outdoors store. I stopped and got my phone out to call 911, but before I did, the encounter seemed to resolve itself and he ran off. The woman had been yelling some racially charged language at him (both of them were white) during the assault and afterwards went over to talk to some other passers by. I guess I wasn't sure what to do since it seemed like it was over and I didn't particularly want to go talk to her because of the racist language she'd been using and because she was already talking to the other people. In retrospect I probably should have gone over and offered to call the police regardless, but I just left instead.
After I got home, I tried calling the police to tell them about the incident in case the woman ended up reporting it and needed a witness and they just told me they "don't really do that" and that I should have called when I was at the scene. Is this regular protocol? I feel a bit miffed and confused that they didn't seem to at least make a record and take my contact information.
I was riding my bike in the city and saw a man punching a woman repeatedly in front of an outdoors store. I stopped and got my phone out to call 911, but before I did, the encounter seemed to resolve itself and he ran off. The woman had been yelling some racially charged language at him (both of them were white) during the assault and afterwards went over to talk to some other passers by. I guess I wasn't sure what to do since it seemed like it was over and I didn't particularly want to go talk to her because of the racist language she'd been using and because she was already talking to the other people. In retrospect I probably should have gone over and offered to call the police regardless, but I just left instead.
After I got home, I tried calling the police to tell them about the incident in case the woman ended up reporting it and needed a witness and they just told me they "don't really do that" and that I should have called when I was at the scene. Is this regular protocol? I feel a bit miffed and confused that they didn't seem to at least make a record and take my contact information.
You did the right thing. I mean, the right-est thing would be to call as it was happening but better to call late than never.
posted by pintapicasso at 8:33 AM on August 3, 2016
posted by pintapicasso at 8:33 AM on August 3, 2016
Best answer: Good for you for trying to make a report. But no, the police normally don't collect statements and contact information on everything people call in to them after the fact. Best to contact them when you are seeing what is happening.
What is going on here is that the police are constantly sifting through events and trying to focus resources on what is most serious. What you saw sounds like a misdemeanor assault, and although that isn't chopped liver, what generally happens is that police respond at the time, take a report, and direct file the case with a misdemeanor prosecutor or send in their report and ask that a summons issue. If what happened were, by contrast, a felony, then likely a detective would be assigned and there would be more followup investigation. The bigger and more serious the case, the more resources the police devote.
TLDR: the police really do not have the ability to store and use all witness information, particularly what comes in after the fact on less serious cases.
posted by bearwife at 10:55 AM on August 3, 2016
What is going on here is that the police are constantly sifting through events and trying to focus resources on what is most serious. What you saw sounds like a misdemeanor assault, and although that isn't chopped liver, what generally happens is that police respond at the time, take a report, and direct file the case with a misdemeanor prosecutor or send in their report and ask that a summons issue. If what happened were, by contrast, a felony, then likely a detective would be assigned and there would be more followup investigation. The bigger and more serious the case, the more resources the police devote.
TLDR: the police really do not have the ability to store and use all witness information, particularly what comes in after the fact on less serious cases.
posted by bearwife at 10:55 AM on August 3, 2016
When I witnessed a minor car accident involving a taxicab and a civilian car, in which the civilian car was CLEARLY at fault, I handed the taxi driver my card and told him I would attest to him not being at fault. I felt pretty strongly about this because I knew that driver would be held to a high standard and even though the at-fault driver pulled over and said out of his window, "I'm sorry, that was my fault", he seemed a little unclear on how serious this could be for the taxi driver's career. I mean, he didn't even get out of his car until I told him to.
It took a couple of months, but I was contacted by the taxi's insurance examiner and I provided them with a statement of the incident. In my conversation with the insurance co., I gathered that I was the only witness to speak up to the driver, and so had it not been for me, it would have been the two drivers' word against each other. Also, I'm not even sure that the at-fault driver provided his contact information.
In your case, I'm not sure what I would have done. Given that it appears that you didn't see the beginning of the scuffle, I don't know if I would have been comfortable assuming that the man was the instigator. And given her unsavory language I'm not sure I would want her to have my contact information. But if you're ever in a situation like this again, if you have a clear view of what's going on and are willing to be a witness, you could provide contact information to the victim, and they can provide it to the police if they make a complaint or to their attorney if they sue.
posted by janey47 at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016
It took a couple of months, but I was contacted by the taxi's insurance examiner and I provided them with a statement of the incident. In my conversation with the insurance co., I gathered that I was the only witness to speak up to the driver, and so had it not been for me, it would have been the two drivers' word against each other. Also, I'm not even sure that the at-fault driver provided his contact information.
In your case, I'm not sure what I would have done. Given that it appears that you didn't see the beginning of the scuffle, I don't know if I would have been comfortable assuming that the man was the instigator. And given her unsavory language I'm not sure I would want her to have my contact information. But if you're ever in a situation like this again, if you have a clear view of what's going on and are willing to be a witness, you could provide contact information to the victim, and they can provide it to the police if they make a complaint or to their attorney if they sue.
posted by janey47 at 2:45 PM on August 3, 2016
After the fact, the victim might report an assault, and then there might be an interest in collecting a witness statement. Depends on the police department and how busy they are. If the person being assaulted does not report it, the police will not pursue it.
Leave your contact information with the outdoors store. If they are contacted they may pass the information along.
posted by yclipse at 4:56 PM on August 3, 2016
Leave your contact information with the outdoors store. If they are contacted they may pass the information along.
posted by yclipse at 4:56 PM on August 3, 2016
I was told by a friend in law enforcement to go ahead and insist they take down the information (even though they tend to be reluctant about it), as they do use this information for statistics and allocation of resources to different neighborhoods, as it helps them to see patterns. Although it is a whole different part of the system that does that, so the cops themselves tend to not be excited about the additional paperwork.
posted by Vaike at 2:45 PM on August 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Vaike at 2:45 PM on August 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by so fucking future at 8:25 PM on August 2, 2016 [2 favorites]