Modesto police volunteers get lesson in being good witnesses

A meeting of Volunteers in Police Services got off to a tense start when two young men carried into the Modesto Police Department’s community room a heated exchange over a fender bender.

Who does that?

Two Police Explorers, that’s who, acting out the quarrel to test the VIPS’s powers of observation. It appeared real, and the men were ushered out of the room within a minute or so.

The volunteers then were informed it was all an act, and were asked to describe the men they saw. They did well, said Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves, who leads the VIPS program and conducted Wednesday night’s hour-long training session.

Many of the roughly two dozen VIPS called out heights, ethnicity, clothing, hair color and other descriptors. They were correct in saying both men were Latino and wore blue jeans, one wore a white T-shirt, the taller one wore a dark shirt, beanie and glasses, and they were arguing over a collision outside the Police Department.

Accurate, thorough witness accounts can be crucial to police investigations. A sheet Graves gave the volunteers said a description of suspects and facts observed about the crime – make and color of a vehicle, any part of a license plate, direction of escape, any weapons used – are the main points upon which officers base their investigations.

“These two items can in many cases be far more important than the findings made through scientific investigation at the scene, such as fingerprints, foot casts, etc. Many times, such evidence is nonexistent,” the sheet says.

Some of the discussion at the VIPS meeting was specific to their roles as volunteers patrolling in MPD vehicles, but much of it – getting good at observing what, when and where something occurred, and who was involved – applies to anyone who witnesses a crime.

If calling 911, take a moment to think about what you saw. “We get amped up, the adrenaline gets going,” Graves told the VIPS. “Take a second to breathe and gather your thoughts. How many times have we heard, ‘I don’t know – it happened so fast’?”

Officers find it easier to be good witnesses because they’re trained and do it all the time. For the rest of us, Graves suggested playing what-if games. “Practice how you would act if something happened right now. What would I do, who would I call? ... When I’m at the bank, I do this all the time. What if the guy behind me robs the bank? What is he wearing? Nothing’s ever happened, but I’m preparing myself just in case it does.”

Who

The most important thing a witness can do is describe a suspect as thoroughly as possible, including height, weight, race, gender, hair and eye color, approximate age and distinguishing marks such as tattoos or scars.

Dispatchers and officers are trained to think head-to-toe, said Mike McCoy, VIPS volunteer coordinator. If a witness can report that same way, it makes things go faster in an emergency. Also, he said, a more thorough description is likely that way than by skipping around, because you’re less likely to miss something.

Arthur Silva, VIPS captain, said he was taught to look beyond clothing, which can be changed in a heartbeat. A baseball cap and sunglasses are likely to be ditched right away. “A guy wearing a black hoodie can take that off and be walking around in a white T-shirt,” he said. Physical features, facial hair and any visible distinguishing marks like tattoos aren’t quickly changed.

Graves added that shoes are important to note because they also are unlikely to be changed immediately. And though it might seem obvious to report something unusual, not everyone does.

“A person once didn’t report that the suspect was wearing a pink backpack; that’s something we learned later on,” she said. “That would be really important to try to give dispatch because that’s going to make them stand out.”

What

Be prepared for dispatchers to ask how many people were involved in the crime, whether it’s still occurring or is over, whether the parties remain at the scene or have left, whether children were involved.

If describing a vehicle, try to include make and model, whether it’s a two- or four-door, a convertible and identifiable things like custom wheels, a spoiler, even a bumper sticker. But do not say more than you know; don’t call a vehicle a Ford, Chevy, Honda or Toyota unless you are positive.

And even a partial license plate is of great help, Graves said. “When you are out there in the community and you have a white Honda that’s involved in a crime just committed, every car on the street is a white Honda,” she said. “I don’t know what happens, somebody scoops down and takes all the other cars off, I don’t know, but that’s just how it goes. But if you have a partial plate, you now at least have a white Honda with 8FJ.”

John Borlish, a VIP sergeant, offered: “Yesterday, I observed a car being stolen, so what I did is I took a picture ... Deputies showed up and I gave them a description and everything, just like we were talking about, but I had a picture to back me up.”

Graves agreed that cameras are a great tool but urged caution in taking pictures because if a suspect sees it being done, he could become aggressive.

Where

When reporting a crime, location is vital. If you don’t know the specific address or even the block number, use landmarks, like saying “on McHenry Avenue by Safeway.”

Officers on patrol frequently take a moment to note their location. “It’s a game they play: Where are we now?” Graves said.

One of the VIPS, Gary Costello, also stressed the importance of using compass directions. Don’t say, for example, that someone turned right onto McHenry from Briggsmore. If you don’t know your directions, say the driver turned toward downtown or toward Standiford Avenue.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Modesto police volunteers get lesson in being good witnesses."