Serial Murderers and the Proactive and Reactive Responses

Investigating serial murders requires both a proactive and a reactive approach. Proactive methods are generally designed to prevent future crimes from occurring by taking action now on known variables. Reactive approaches include tactics and techniques used when police respond to crimes that have already occurred. Both proactive and reactive approaches are needed when addressing the problem of serial murder.
Proactive methods used for serial murder are similar to tactics used for broader crime prevention, such as increased police visibility and presence throughout the neighborhood. Big data helps police improve the efficacy of proactive methods, by helping law enforcement identify patterns of the serial murderer’s behavior or patterns of victimization. When specific geographic areas of concern have been identified, patrols can then target those areas, helping the police department allocate resources wisely while also preventing crime using data-driven methods. To be as effective as possible in preventing future crimes, the police patrols need to be data-driven but also “highly visible,” (“Proactive Policing,” 2015, p. 1). Databases can also help police develop more effective communications strategies, such as having strategies in place to warn residents in vulnerable areas and offer evacuation options.
Another crucial component of proactive policing is akin to community policing, whereby officers build relationships with members of the community systematically. Relationships are cultivated and strengthened over time, to ensure bilateral communications with residents and business. As trust and respect between officers and the community builds, residents and business owners will be more likely to report suspicious behavior, offering tips and direct assistance to police when needed. The police can also leverage relationships with community members to perform more strategic and effective surveillance. For example, if police want to install more CCTV, the cooperation and assent of business owners may be required. If resources are spread thin in the department, members of the community might also cooperate and collaborate with police on the monitoring of CCTV or participate in neighborhood watch programs.
Proactive policing often interfaces, rather than interferes, with reactive policing. For instance, some of the same proactive methods used to prevent future crimes can be used for more effective responses to a new incident. Increased visible patrol units also allows officers to reduce response times and offer safer and less intrusive reactions to malicious behavior. Likewise, proactive methods like profiling software can help patrol units to make positive identifications and prevent wrongful arrests. In fact, behavioral analysis is both a proactive and a reactive measure that has been proven effective in serial murder investigations in particular (Hall, n.d.). Also, routine patrol procedures are both proactive and reactive (Department of Justice, 2015).
Specifically reactive methods include responding to calls, but can also include the follow-up investigations that include crime scene investigations. The information yielded from the follow-up investigation is then transferred to a proactive team that can compile pertinent information like the serial murderer’s habits, patterns, physical, or psychological profile. Victim characteristics can also be recorded and entered into the database that is used to devise and implement proactive strategies. Whereas reactive methods respond to specific issues and entail targeted investigations of specific variables, proactive methods require a great deal of initiative on the part of lead investigators and the management (Department of Justice, 2015). Proactive methods require a creative thinking approach involving big picture issues and long-term strategies.
Both proactive and reactive approaches to investigating serial murderers also need to be carefully managed from a public relations and media perspective. An FBI report on serial murder explicitly points out how misinformation is detrimental to all serial murder investigations. Because many serial murderers do commit crimes that span multiple state lines, the cases sometimes fall under federal jurisdiction. When the do, the FBI works with local law enforcement personnel to gather all pertinent information collected during both reactive responses to incidents or proactive investigative strategies. However, the FBI also warns local law enforcement personnel to resist getting seduced by “inaccurate, anecdotal information and fictional portrayals of serial killers” perpetrated by the media as well as well meaning but ill-informed or emotional residents of the community (Morton, n.d., p. 1). Using only reactive measures would mean that local law enforcement could easily get caught up in emotionality and pressures to provide knee-jerk and hasty solutions. Resolving serial killer crimes often takes time and a conscientious effort, a combination of local and federal resources, and a blending of proactive and reactive measures.
Serial murder is rare but sinister, and has the potential to terrorize local communities. Therefore, local law enforcement needs to use all methods at their disposal to assuage public fear while keeping the community safe. This involves the use of both proactive and reactive measures. Proactive measures help increase the impression of safety as well as improving actual safety by having a highly visible team of officers serving not just as deterrent to would-be perpetrators but also offering a quick response team. Moreover, the patrol teams are guided by actual data rather than arbitrarily posting police officers throughout the community. Profiling of the serial murderer also depends on the combination of reactive methods, from where the data is gathered, and proactive measures, which include the protocols and strategies used by investigators. Collaboration and partnerships are the cornerstones of effective serial murderer prevention and response.







References

Department of Justice (2015). Police discretion with young offenders. http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/yj-jj/discre/org/styles.html
Hall, E. (n.d.). Criminology and Justice. http://criminologyjust.blogspot.ca/2011/05/investigation-into-serial-murder.html#.WqAnrJPwYWo
Morton, R.J. (n.d.). Serial murder. https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder
“Proactive Policing,” (2015). Regina Police. http://reginapolice.ca/2015/05/proactive-policing/