The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators 4th ED
By: Joseph Giacalone
Great news! In March 2023, The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators has been completely revised and updated to the 4th Edition. I am very proud how this edition has turned out.
Not only is this a brand new edition, I...
The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act: Is it Enough?
The Cold Case Problem
Cold case homicides have become a national problem. In recent years, homicides continue to surge and case clearances continue to drop. What has made matters worse, is the rocky start of the the...
Policing Our Way Out of Crime
Policing our way out of crime has fallen out of favor over the past two years. However, New Yorkers woke up the other day to the news that their two most wanted perpetrators were been apprehended. Gary Cabana, the man wanted in the Museum of a Modern Art attacks was...
Shannan Gilbert: 10 Years Later
It’s been ten years since Shannan Gilbert’s body was discovered in the marshes behind the Oak Beach Community. Shannan was last seen on May 1, 2010, running and screaming for her life. It was more than a year later before Suffolk Police finally found her remains.
Without Shannan Gilbert’s frantic call to...
Long Island Serial Killer Map
By: Joseph Giacalone
The Long Island Serial Killer map is a work in progress. I've been working on it for awhile now and it's time to let you decide what else gets added. The map included every victim from Hempstead Lake Park, to Manorville, Fire Island, and Gilgo Beach. I will add...
Is the Long Island Serial Killer Case Ice Cold?
By: Joseph Giacalone
Is the Long Island Serial Killer case ice cold? Yes. There has been little movement in the case. That's all that we know. At this point in the investigation, it might be a good idea to release everything they have. Did the police record any...
Digital Forensics and the Physiological Time of Death
By: Frank Thornton
During an investigation, the Physiological Time of Death (TOD) is often critical to investigators. This is especially true in homicide cases when the investigator tries to determine the victim's last movements and whom they might have been in contact with at a given moment in time....
Jumpstart the Cold Case Files
By: Joseph Giacalone
Jumpstart the Cold Case files now! Homicide clearance rates continue to fall and violent crimes continues to rise in the United States. Now, more than ever, a focus on who is wanted for murder becomes an important task that may lead to a reduction in violence. Violence often begets...
Recording the Time of Death
Recording the Time of Death
By: Joseph Giacalone
Recording the time of death can often be a tricky situation for investigators. There are a number of things that are out of the investigator's control, Time of Death (TOD) is only one of them. The golden rule for death investigations is to treat every one...
New Law Enforcement Blog Coming
My name is Joseph Giacalone and I am a retired Sergeant SDS from the NYC Police Department. I will be starting a new blog that will cover Cold Cases, Missing Persons, Historical U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and various topics relating to law enforcement.
In addition, I will discuss some of the stories from the Bronx...