ABSTRACT
A strategy with a solid principle-based foundation is necessary to protect the case, insure justice for victim, family, and society, as well as provide protection for the case, investigator, and investigating agency, well after the case is resolved. There will be many pundits offering advice in service of their agendas that have no skin in the game (i.e., risk associated with investigating the case other than being wrong) who provide training and strategies based on celebrity cases, situational truths, and what-if scenarios. From my experience of listening and reading many such agenda-driven presentations over the years, it was obvious that many presenters have not worked wearing a badge, made an arrest, spilled a drop of their own blood in service to their community, or placed themselves or their families’ physical and financial welfare in jeopardy. Both families and investigators, as is reinforced throughout this book, are just different sides of the same coin. Developing and communicating an effective transparent investigative strategy between family and investigator will go a long way in helping each understand that there is a common goal. A solid foundation built on simple unwavering principles is necessary prior to the consideration of developing any effective strategy for a particular case.
