Written by Stephen W. Cogar, Esq., in conjunction with police officials around the state, the West Virginia Law Enforcement Field Guide features a practical, comprehensive collection of law enforcement strategies, procedures and checklists designed to assist law enforcement professionals with offense detection, investigation, arrest, interrogation and successful trial presentation. procedures and checklists. This Field Guide also features extensive works on civil liability and police misconduct risk management.
West Virginia Law Enforcement Field Guide: 2024-2025 Ed.
Features concise, practical strategies, procedures and checklists for law enforcement professionals related to offense detection, investigation, arrest, interrogation, and successful trial presentation.
(Table of contents from 2023 Edition. For informational use only)
DUI DETECTION
The Vehicle in Motion
Personal Contact with the Driver
Field Sobriety Testing and Preliminary Breath Testing
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
Walk and Turn Test
Procedures for One-Leg Stand Testing
Procedures for Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement Testing (For ARIDE certified officers)
Field Notes on Driver’s Performance on Field Sobriety Tests
Preliminary Breath Testing
DUI INFORMATION SHEET
Instructions for West Virginia DUI Information Sheet
Sample DUI Information Sheet
Completing the DMV Affidavit
SEARCH & SEIZURE; WARRANTS; INTERROGATIONS
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Article III, Section 6 of the West Virginia Constitution
Exclusionary Rule
Reasonable Suspicion & Probable Cause
Emergency Searches
Crime Scenes - Warrantless Search
Crime Scenes - Victim Right to Privacy
Vehicles-Motor Homes-Vessels (Warrantless Search)
Incidental to Arrest (Warrantless Search)
Arrestee’s vehicle
Elements of a valid search incidental to arrest
Searching room where arrest made
Investigative Detention (Warrantless Search)
Dogs (Warrantless Search):
Open Field Doctrine (Warrantless Search)
Garbage and Abandoned Property (Warrantless Search)
Plain View Doctrine (Warrantless Seizure)
Fresh or Hot Pursuits (Warrantless Search)
Community Caretaker
Consent Searches
Line-ups
Vehicle Inventory
School Searches
Computers, Cell Phones, Tablets, Personal Digital Assistants, MP3 and Similar Players
Tracking Devices
Forfeiture - (Warrantless Seizure)
Wiretapping & Electronic Surveillance
Natural Resources Officers - Warrantless Seizures & Forfeiture
Strip Searching & Body Cavities
Search Warrants
Who can issue the warrant
What you can search for and seize
Information needed for search warrant affidavit
How to execute a search warrant
Suggestions for surviving a suppression hearing dealing with a search
Affidavit & complaint instructions
Arrests & Arrest Warrants
Elements of a valid arrest
Citizen’s arrest powers
Fugitives from justice and extradition
Juveniles - citing and taking into custody
Legislative immunity from arrest
Elements of a valid arrest warrant
Executing arrest warrants
Completing the criminal complaint for summons or warrant
Interrogations
When Miranda required
When Miranda not required
When interrogation not allowed
Techniques that may render a confession invalid
Questioning suspects not under arrest
Obtaining juvenile statements
Disclosure of juvenile statements
STATUTORY LANGUAGE (CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS)
STATUTORY LANGUAGE (MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS)
NATURAL RESOURCES LAW (CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHECKLISTS
BOMB THREATS & EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
K-9 CHECKLISTS
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE INVESTIGATION CHECKLISTS
OUT-OF-STATE PURSUIT CHECKLISTS
CIVIL LIABILITY/RISK MANAGEMENT CHECKLISTS
Pursuits
Use of Force
VEHICLE PURSUIT INFORMATION CHECKLIST
HIGH LIABILITY INFORMATION CHECKLIST
THE TEN PILLARS OF SUCCESSFUL COURTROOM TESTIMONY
APPENDICES
Appendix “A”
Sample Items to Be Seized Statement - Drugs
Sample Property to Be Seized - Stolen Property
Appendix “B”
Sample Facts for Belief - Confidential Reliable Informant
Sample Facts for Belief - Anonymous Tip
Sample Probable Cause Statement
Sample No-Knock Language for §10 of Affidavit & Complaint
Appendix “C”
Sample Probable Cause Statement for Criminal Complaint - DUI
Appendix “D”
Interview & Miranda Rights Form
Appendix “E”
Affidavit and Complaint for Search Warrant
Property Receipt
Appendix “F”
Authorization for Release of Medical Records
Appendix “G”
Consent to Search - Other Than Vehicle
Vehicle Search Consent Form
Vehicle Search Consent Form – Spanish
DUI DETECTION
The Vehicle in Motion
Personal Contact with the Driver
Field Sobriety Testing and Preliminary Breath Testing
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
Walk and Turn Test
Procedures for One-Leg Stand Testing
Procedures for Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement Testing (For ARIDE certified officers)
Field Notes on Driver’s Performance on Field Sobriety Tests
Preliminary Breath Testing
DUI INFORMATION SHEET
Instructions for West Virginia DUI Information Sheet
Sample DUI Information Sheet
Completing the DMV Affidavit
SEARCH & SEIZURE; WARRANTS; INTERROGATIONS
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Article III, Section 6 of the West Virginia Constitution
Exclusionary Rule
Reasonable Suspicion & Probable Cause
Emergency Searches
Crime Scenes - Warrantless Search
Crime Scenes - Victim Right to Privacy
Vehicles-Motor Homes-Vessels (Warrantless Search)
Incidental to Arrest (Warrantless Search)
Arrestee’s vehicle
Elements of a valid search incidental to arrest
Searching room where arrest made
Investigative Detention (Warrantless Search)
Dogs (Warrantless Search):
Open Field Doctrine (Warrantless Search)
Garbage and Abandoned Property (Warrantless Search)
Plain View Doctrine (Warrantless Seizure)
Fresh or Hot Pursuits (Warrantless Search)
Community Caretaker
Consent Searches
Line-ups
Vehicle Inventory
School Searches
Computers, Cell Phones, Tablets, Personal Digital Assistants, MP3 and Similar Players
Tracking Devices
Forfeiture - (Warrantless Seizure)
Wiretapping & Electronic Surveillance
Natural Resources Officers - Warrantless Seizures & Forfeiture
Strip Searching & Body Cavities
Search Warrants
Who can issue the warrant
What you can search for and seize
Information needed for search warrant affidavit
How to execute a search warrant
Suggestions for surviving a suppression hearing dealing with a search
Affidavit & complaint instructions
Arrests & Arrest Warrants
Elements of a valid arrest
Citizen’s arrest powers
Fugitives from justice and extradition
Juveniles - citing and taking into custody
Legislative immunity from arrest
Elements of a valid arrest warrant
Executing arrest warrants
Completing the criminal complaint for summons or warrant
Interrogations
When Miranda required
When Miranda not required
When interrogation not allowed
Techniques that may render a confession invalid
Questioning suspects not under arrest
Obtaining juvenile statements
Disclosure of juvenile statements
STATUTORY LANGUAGE (CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS)
STATUTORY LANGUAGE (MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS)
NATURAL RESOURCES LAW (CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHECKLISTS
BOMB THREATS & EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
K-9 CHECKLISTS
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE INVESTIGATION CHECKLISTS
OUT-OF-STATE PURSUIT CHECKLISTS
CIVIL LIABILITY/RISK MANAGEMENT CHECKLISTS
Pursuits
Use of Force
VEHICLE PURSUIT INFORMATION CHECKLIST
HIGH LIABILITY INFORMATION CHECKLIST
THE TEN PILLARS OF SUCCESSFUL COURTROOM TESTIMONY
APPENDICES
Appendix “A”
Sample Items to Be Seized Statement - Drugs
Sample Property to Be Seized - Stolen Property
Appendix “B”
Sample Facts for Belief - Confidential Reliable Informant
Sample Facts for Belief - Anonymous Tip
Sample Probable Cause Statement
Sample No-Knock Language for §10 of Affidavit & Complaint
Appendix “C”
Sample Probable Cause Statement for Criminal Complaint - DUI
Appendix “D”
Interview & Miranda Rights Form
Appendix “E”
Affidavit and Complaint for Search Warrant
Property Receipt
Appendix “F”
Authorization for Release of Medical Records
Appendix “G”
Consent to Search - Other Than Vehicle
Vehicle Search Consent Form
Vehicle Search Consent Form