With the gun cocked and trembling hands, inexperience begins to surface. With a trickle of sweat, you find yourself hiding behind a wall, trying to adjust to your new designation. You’re a step closer to finding the killer, thus ending the cat-and-mouse chase once and for all.
Embarking on a detective’s path isn’t for the faint-hearted; it’s a dangerous journey wrapped in mystery. Prepare to be consumed by the maze of the unknown, where rookies tread cautiously, navigating deceitful secrets. Unravel the mystique, for every newcomer yearns to unveil the clandestine truths that lie within.
Passing the magnifying glass to a rookie detective, let’s dive into the vital knowledge every rookie detective should know. Prepare to dissect the essentials of this thrilling profession, where mysteries await discovery. Together, we’ll unravel the secrets before them, guiding them through the intricate world of being a detective.
Skills
First things first, let’s establish a few things.
Being a detective requires critical thinking, analytical skills, sharp memory, thinking on the feet, and exceptional problem-solving skills. Lives are at stake, and justice hangs in the balance. One should be able to operate under pressure, identify patterns, and connect pieces of evidence to the truth at hand.
You cannot procrastinate. If you are not motivated to answer every phone call or wake up in the middle of the night, you cannot be a good detective. Therefore, you cannot slack off or even off the job because you are accountable for upholding justice.
Attention to Detail
The truth may very well be hiding in plain sight. Attention to detail is crucial, and it is fundamental to keep your mind sharp so you’re constantly on the offensive, sighting clues in every nook and cranny. Although sleep is important, it is not important, especially when you are a detective. It would help if you recorded anything worth jotting down; you never know, and something as little as a paper clip can help you have your “eureka” moment on the job.
Effective Communication
Odds are, you are not the only one on the case. Whether assigned a partner or an entire team, their assistance is crucial in tracking the culprit. Effective communication with your subordinates is paramount, as any unclear message or instructions can have detrimental consequences. As a detective, there is minimal room for error. Besides interacting with your team, you will also engage with witnesses, suspects, and even victims. Emotional intelligence is the key, enabling you to ask all the right questions to extract productive information to build ground on the case.
Techniques
Forensics is everything when it comes to being a detective. This fundamental skill sets one apart from any layman who merely shares their opinion on the case. New detectives should be well-versed in their knowledge of forensics that will bring the truth to light. Even though a separate forensics department is available for law enforcement, understanding the basics of DNA analysis, ballistics, and fingerprinting is vital.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is arguably the most important aspect of being a new detective. When you are inexperienced in any job, the work pressure can often daunt you. And when you are surrounded by yellow tape, flashing blues and red lights, and a dead person in the middle of all the chaos, things can get very traumatizing. It would help if you kept your cool, trusted your crew, and moved forward with bravery.
There will always be times when you will falter. We have always seen superhuman depictions of detectives in pop culture through all your Batmans and Sherlock Holmes’, people who always knew the right thing to say and kept their cool under pressure.
Author Bob Kelly in his book Chicago Detective Jack Fallon in the Mystery of the Exotic Escort Murders, offers an authentic portrayal of a detective who has just been recruited into the homicide division. In the bustling metropolis of Chicago, Jack Fallon has his hands full with some of the most mysterious and gruesome murders of prostitutes ever.
Delve into his journey in the first book of Kelly’s genre-defining series.
Grab your copy now available on Amazon.
