Explore the five indispensable skills that distinguish homicide detectives, enabling them to decode mysteries and bring justice to the forefront.
The homicide division is the pinnacle point for any crime investigator’s career, not because they get many perks but because of its severity and impact on the public.
Unlike other divisions, Homicide overlaps multiple crime categories, like war crimes, euthanasia, manslaughter, and other extreme criminal activities. It is one of the most challenging lines of work in law enforcement.
These crimes not only result in the loss of innocent lives but also leave a devastating trail in their wake. And it’s up to these trained individuals to use it to solve these crime cases and, in some cases, find the victim’s bodies. The perpetrators are often quick to flee the crime scene, and it’s up to trained specialized units to find them before they commit another crime.
A lot of brain-racking, all-nighters, and coffee drips go into piecing these puzzles together. From identifying the culprit and proving the crime to restoring the peace of a community and bringing closure to grieving families, investigating homicide is not easy.
Similar to the crime thrillers you read, the life of a homicide detective is a constant adventure. They must stay vigilant and intellectually and physically active when investigating the field, which takes years of training, education, and hard work.
Besides being agile and mentally present, an aspiring homicide detective must come to terms with this profession’s responsibilities.
But how can they shoulder it?
Here are some essential skills that these law enforcement officers must understand before stepping into this role:
Analytical Skills
What’s a detective without analytical skills?
A clueless sleuth trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Analytical skills matter a lot when it comes to investigating crime. Some homicide criminals might be first-time offenders, but sometimes there are serial killers, assaulters, and manipulators hidden behind an amateur’s mask. Therefore, a detective needs sharp analytical skills to observe, interpret, and identify the perpetrator’s methods, weapons, and distractions.
Upon reaching a crime scene, they must be quick enough to develop theories on how the crime was committed and eventually grow a suspect list. Analytical skills help form a detective’s action plan, perform field detection for drugs or explosives, and collect evidence.
Tactical Communication Skills
When working for the public, communication skills become essential to your job description, especially as a law enforcement officer trusted to protect people. Homicide detectives usually use the 80-20 rule, listening 80% of the time and only talking during the remaining 20%.
Also known as the tactical communication technique, every police division is trained to use specific strategies to diffuse situations and find the root cause before they escalate. They have to win people’s trust to get them to cooperate and follow the protocols. These communication strategies involve speaking in slow-paced and clear language and making simple requests while asking questions. Resort to open-ended questions when using how and why. Use your body language to assure them you are trustworthy, attentive, and here to help them.
Capturing The Microscopic Details
A homicide detective who is good with attention to detail will always “kill it” when cracking a case.
A homicide detective’s observational skills should be akin to a magnifying glass, capturing even the tiniest nuance and connecting the dots while solving a case. This primary trait sets the homicide division apart from other police units. Even when other members of your department dismiss it, take note of every detail at the crime scene, from the direction of the splatter of blood to the type of wound inflicted on the victim.
Make sure to sample everything, even the blood splatter, as you never know if a third party might be involved in the crime. Even the slightest clue can be a linchpin, turning the investigation in the right direction.
Emotional Resilience
You must have an agile mind to find a career in the homicide division.
Long-term exposure to violent crimes, disturbing scenes, and footage can take a toll on an individual’s mental and physical health. However, law enforcement officers are taught to practice emotional resilience to handle stressful and intense situations wisely. Streamlining the investigation process is necessary, as emotions may interfere with their judgment and result in irrational decisions.
Although there are some opportunities to rest and recover, building emotional endurance is necessary to avoid developing severe mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and depression in the long term. Investigators are trained for stress management and have access to counseling services to help them negate meltdowns and achieve the highest level of work efficiency.
Teamwork and Collaborative Efforts
A detective should be the MVP of a homicide division.
Unraveling a crime scene is more than just a one-person job; it requires a whole team to find the culprit. They must be present at the crime scene, collect evidence, and interview the victims and witnesses. They must work alongside forensic experts, pathologists, and other law enforcement agencies to gather comprehensive evidence and solve cases. Therefore, they require a collaborative spirit and the potential to work objectively with people with different mindsets.
Stay One Step Ahead in The Pursuit of Justice with These Five Skills
A quintessential detective is emotionally agile and good with analysis, observation, communication, and teamwork. Along with the required educational criteria, you can become a reliable law enforcer if you have all these boxes ticked off.
Just like Jack Fallon, who, though new to the elite task force, fearlessly tackles a challenging case while braving constant threats from a notorious Southside street gang. There is a serial killer active on the streets of Chi City at night, killing innocent escorts and leaving a death trail in their wake. Jack Fallon has to find them. He, along with his partner, Elaina Rodriguez, must build a foolproof plan to catch the killer before another life is lost.
Learn more about how they do it and whether they will succeed in Bob Kelly’s noir, “Chicago Detective Jack Fallon in the Mystery of the Exotic Escort Murders,” now on Amazon.