Regarding the crime scene classification and Im speaking to basic crime scene investigation, NOT this particular case. But if the case is reported as a Suicide, the police officers who respond as well as the investigators automatically tend to treat the call as a suicide. It is a critical error in thinking to handle the call based on the initial report. The immediate problem is that psychologically one is assuming the death to be a suicide case, when in fact this is a basic death investigation, which could very well turn out to be a homicide. The investigator cannot assume anything as a professional law enforcement officer and therefore, until all the facts are in, its best to label it a crime scene
Any preconceived theories or notions are dangerous in professional death investigation. In addition to errors of assuming a suicide or natural death other preconceived notions may include deaths, which appear to be drug related and/or domestic violence. LE are taught to keep an open mind and not be influenced either by the initial reports or the presentation in the crime scene.
When I worked in Law Enforcment, I recommended that an investigator respond to every unattended death scene, whether it was reported as a homicide, suicide, accident or natural to assure that any potential crime scene and/or evidence surrounding the event was NOT disturbed and as such, it was a crime scene until further information was in.
