California Police Chief- Fall 2013 CPCA_2018_Winter Magazine-FINAL | Page 22

only with individual investigators, but for the entire organization and may help prevent some cases from going cold in the first place. • MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATION – Beyond the benefits listed previously, cold case review enhances the opportunity for different organizations to work together to find resolution. Combining not only the resources, but the skills and experience of investigators from different backgrounds brings the potential closure of difficult cases much closer. This is especially beneficial for smaller agencies that have fewer internal resources. Managed correctly, collaboration makes the most of all available resources, so that each participant benefits, as does the overall mission: solving cold cases. • UPHOLDING OUR SWORN DUTY – Simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Major cases go cold for any number of reasons. However, when leadership, vision and the belief that it is our responsibility as law enforcement leaders to ensure we are committed to implementing best practices, putting the right people in the right places, and providing what limited resources and training we can afford towards accomplishing our mission. A member of PRVNT begins the initial presentation of an unsolved homicide to members of the team, the DA’s Office and DOJ. Cold cases affect us all. It is undeniably one of the most difficult aspects of our jobs. We took this oath to help others, and when we are unable to, it can be discouraging. Solving cold cases IS possible with the right mindset and resources. At the end of the day, we all win. ■ Whiteboards, notebooks, determination. Monterey Peninsula Detectives met to discuss investigative tactics in October 2018 as part of the Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team (PRVNT). This most recent collaborative investigation resulted in the arrest of five suspects involved in two sepa- rate 2014 cold case homicides and two attempted homicides. PRVNT’s primary mission is to reduce violent crime on the Monterey Peninsula. It is comprised of investigators from multiple different law enforcement agencies. 22 California Police Chief | www.californiapolicechiefs.org Getting the message out. The benefits to the victim, the family and the community are not the only significant rewards for the agency committed to solving cold cases.