The release of surveillance footage and details on what took place during a robbery investigation can play a big role in the overall case. Sometimes, authorities said it’s better not to release images and in-depth details.
“First of all, is there video to be had? If there is video what is the quality of the video,” said Col. Bill Puett with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department. “If it’s poor quality we may not be able to enhance or do much with it. What direction are the cameras pointed? Do they even show anything that occurred?”
Sgt. Dan Sweiger with the St. Joseph Police Department Detective’s Division said when authorities release surveillance images it’s for one of two reasons.
“1. Keep the community safe and 2. hopefully to get a tip on identifying the person,” Sweiger said. “If a suspect is covered with masks and stuff like that generally we’re not going to get that tip on who it is because no one is going to know. The tip we would hope to get down the road would be within the circle of that suspect.”
Surveillance footage is evidence in the case. Sweiger and Puett both said sometimes not releasing the images is better for the investigation.
“Things off the surveillance that we know may be real important down the road for the investigation that only hopefully the suspect would also know,” Sweiger said.
“We don’t want to compromise the investigation. Our goal is citizen safety and protection followed secondly by arresting the suspect and presenting that case and that suspect to the prosecuting attorney,” Puett said. “The evidence, if we show things that may tell the suspect that we know who they are, we know certain pieces of evidence that they may have. They may flee the jurisdiction, they may harm other people, they may destroy pieces of evidence.”
And then, there are many times when releasing the images to the public has helped authorities identify the suspect.
When authorities arrive on scene Sweiger said first steps are to secure the crime scene, help any potential victims and try to identify a suspect. Releasing details in the case on what happened to the public before charges are filed can also harm the investigation.
“We’re hoping to get information back from the community at that point,” Sweiger said. “How much money is taken is important investigative information to have for when we do identify the suspect for questioning down the road.”
“There’s certain information that needs to remain confidential so we can continue to investigate and we can ensure we’re actually talking to the right people,” Puett said. “If we put everything out there then we can’t guard against false confessions or we can’t protect the integrity of the investigation. Plus, compromising the prosecutor’s ability to prosecute. When all the information is laid out there and a jury pool is called in and they are asked ‘do you know anything about this?’ And they can refer back to all the information that is released then we have complex issues there.”
After a suspect is taken into custody the name of the individual cannot be released until charges are filed by the prosecuting attorney.
“We have an obligation to protect that individual’s identity and rights, protect that investigation and the prosecutor’s ability to prosecute,” Puett said. “There’s a presumption that if we arrest someone and we put their name out there and we say they’re arrested for this there is a presumption by some people, that that person actually did it before they’re charged or go to trial. So the fairest way to do it to make sure that everyone’s interest are protected and there’s a legal review in this process that until that person has been lawfully charged by the prosecutor then that name and information, picture and things are not released.”
At times law enforcement will released an image of a person being sought as a “Person-of-interest” or an individual’s name will be released if they are arrested on a warrant.
“Just because that suspect is a person-of-interest doesn’t necessarily mean they committed the crime,” Puett said. “A warrant is already a completed charge. A warrant has already gone through the charging process.”
But in every case, tips from the public and information from witnesses is always wanted by authorities. The TIPS Hotline, (816) 238-TIPS is a way for individuals to make anonymous reports.
“If anyone has information that might be helpful for any investigation it doesn’t have to be robbery we ask for information through the TIPS Hotline. It’s all anonymous,” Sweiger said. “And of course if you would like to help further you can contact our detective division.”