proper police procedure for murder in book i'm writing

[steffieweffie]

I've got a scene in my book where a women sees a man dragging what appears to be a body wrapped in a tarp down a pier to a lake. The guy spots her and starts chasing her with what appears to be a hunting knife. She runs to her car and calls the police dispatcher, who sends out an officer to investigate. what would the police do?

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Are you planning on getting paid for this novel? If so, I offer you my services as technical consultant. My rate is negotiable.

[Creeker]

i've got a scene in my book where a women sees a man dragging what appears to be a body wrapped in a tarp down a pier to lake. the guy spots the and starts chasing her with what appears to be a hunting knife. She runs to her car and calls the police dispatcher, who sends out an officer to investigate. what would the police do?

I'm betting this is a self-published book.

This whole scenario makes no sense and "jumps the shark" of believability.

Try your hand at Horror flicks and always make the near naked chic run into the room where the guy with the chainsaw is cutting up his bodies and you will have more success.


I've had it up to here with people who think they can write books, run around claiming they are "published Authors" and can't put together proper sentences or plots that make sense... but still have the illusion that they are just waiting for their "brilliance" to be discovered.

It all stems from Parents and Teachers making sure there are no losers, everyone wins an award, and you can be whatever you want to be. The simple truth is that you can't. You can try your best, but if you are lousy at it, you'll either starve or work harder at it to be good enough.

[smcc360]

A woman calling 911 screaming about a man chasing her with a hunting knife will get a pretty large law enforcement response.

Just how large depends on the size of the department(s) covering the jurisdiction. In an urban area, you'd get the car assigned to the sector that the pier is in, the cars from the sectors adjoining that one, and a patrol supervisor.

The dispatcher would get the woman's location and try to get a description of Ol' Stabby out of her. The first responding unit would go to her, secure her, and get a better description. The other sectors would roll around trying to find the knife-wielder, based on whatever description the dispatcher and that first unit were able to get.

If the guy with the knife can't be located, they'd take the caller to a hospital if necessary, and then introduce her to the detectives who'll be working her case.

Pretty much the same for a more rural jurisdiction, except you might get more of a mix of agencies responding-- town cops, village cops, county sheriff's deputies, state police, etc. Hopefully they all have a common radio channel they can talk on.

[steffieweffie]

thank you for the only helpful answer to my question

[Piggy]

thank you for the only helpful answer to my question

I think she's talking to you creek.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

One would think a true writer would at least go on a ride along or interview cops in person if they're writing a book about a crime. It helps if the writer is an astute observer and actually CAN write. They'll glean enough information to write pages upon pages of descriptors which would lend much needed credibility to their writing. A good writer will then be able to describe situations to their readers which make them feel as if they're in the scene. I love a book where I completely forget I'm reading words as the scenes play out in my mind.

The rest just peruse the internet and cheat - then get upset when we don't leap at the grand opportunity to delve out police procedures.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

thank you for the only helpful answer to my question

I take offense. What exactly was unhelpful about my response???

[RoadKingTrooper]

I'm betting this is a self-published book.

This whole scenario makes no sense and "jumps the shark" of believability.

Try your hand at Horror flicks and always make the near naked chic run into the room where the guy with the chainsaw is cutting up his bodies and you will have more success.


I've had it up to here with people who think they can write books, run around claiming they are "published Authors" and can't put together proper sentences or plots that make sense... but still have the illusion that they are just waiting for their "brilliance" to be discovered.

It all stems from Parents and Teachers making sure there are no losers, everyone wins an award, and you can be whatever you want to be. The simple truth is that you can't. You can try your best, but if you are lousy at it, you'll either starve or work harder at it to be good enough.

Don't sugarcoat it, tell him how you really feel! LOL

I happen to agree, and if this isn't helpful then go suck an egg!

[steffieweffie]

i actually got some nice local sheriff to tell me what would really happen- this isn't a serious crime novel-it's chick lit fiction with a romantic thread through it, there just happens to be a crime involved. I thought someone here would at least be nice enough to give me some helpful advice not just a bunch of flamers. The thanks goes to smcc360 for a serious response.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

i actually got some nice local sheriff to tell me what would really happen- this isn't a serious crime novel-it's chick lit fiction with a romantic thread through it, there just happens to be a crime involved. I thought someone here would at least be nice enough to give me some helpful advice not just a bunch of flamers.

Actually, it looks like you took my advice and consulted locally. You're welcome.

The thanks goes to smcc360 for a serious response.

His wasn't the only serious response, just the only response you liked. DUSMs saved the day!

[GoDirectly2Jail]

i actually got some nice local sheriff to tell me what would really happen- this isn't a serious crime novel-it's chick lit fiction with a romantic thread through it, there just happens to be a crime involved. I thought someone here would at least be nice enough to give me some helpful advice not just a bunch of flamers. The thanks goes to smcc360 for a serious response.

So, I'm a flamer for expecting some type of compensation for the knowledge I have? (Which is obviously valuable, BTW or you wouldn't have come on here seeking it.)

Guess I should roll over so you can make a profit off what I know. Gimme a break.

[RoadKingTrooper]

i actually got some nice local sheriff to tell me what would really happen- this isn't a serious crime novel-it's chick lit fiction with a romantic thread through it, there just happens to be a crime involved. I thought someone here would at least be nice enough to give me some helpful advice not just a bunch of flamers. The thanks goes to smcc360 for a serious response.

ida david ida ocean tom

[smcc360]

Lads, if this keeps up, we're gonna get a reputation as haters of the written word.