As a seasoned detective, I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming the transition into investigative work can be for newcomers. Unlike the idealized scenarios in training or media, new detectives aren’t eased into the role with a single case at a time. Instead, you’re often handed a substantial caseload, perhaps 30 or more cases in units like property crimes, right from the start. Without a solid system for managing this influx, it’s easy to feel inundated, leading to burnout and inefficiency.
To help new investigators stay organized, prioritize effectively, and achieve successful outcomes, I’ve developed a straightforward framework called EPOCS. This acronym stands for:
- Evaluate
- Prioritize
- Organize
- Consolidate
- Solve
EPOCS provides a step-by-step outline for time management, case tracking, and prioritization, ensuring you remain on top of your workload while delivering justice for victims. In this article, I’ll break down each phase, drawing from practical experiences in units like property crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, and homicide. While caseloads vary by jurisdiction and unit — homicide and sex crimes may involve fewer but more intensive cases — the principles apply broadly.
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Evaluate: Assess your caseload
The first step in EPOCS is to evaluate all assigned cases. Don’t dive deeply into each one immediately; instead, conduct a cursory review. Start by reading the initial report from the responding officer, noting key details such as incident type, available evidence, witnesses, and timelines.
For example, in a property crimes unit, you might receive reports on burglaries, thefts, or vandalism. Jot down quick notes during this review: What evidence was collected? Are there leads like vehicle descriptions or suspect identifiers? This initial scan sets the foundation for the next phases, helping you identify patterns or urgent elements without getting bogged down.
Prioritize: Address time-sensitive actions
Once evaluated, prioritize cases based on urgency. Focus on those requiring immediate action to preserve evidence that could vanish over time. Common examples include digital data like cell tower records, which have strict retention periods varying by provider:
- Verizon typically holds real-time tracking (RTT) data for about 7 days.
- T-Mobile retains timing advance data for up to 30 days.
- AT&T’s policies can be inconsistent, often limiting GPS and cell tower data to 48 hours or less, though some records may be kept longer.
Consider a scenario involving multiple burglaries linked by the same vehicle. If cell tower data could place a suspect’s phone near the scenes, act quickly. Send preservation requests to carriers like T-Mobile or Verizon, and follow up to confirm receipt; this ensures the data remains available when you’re ready to draft a search warrant.
Prioritization prevents solvable cases from going cold due to lost evidence. Rank cases by timelines: What must be done today versus next week? This phase keeps your efforts focused on high-impact actions.
Organize: Structure for efficiency
With priorities set, organize your caseload logically. Group cases by required actions, such as drafting search warrants for cell tower records, DNA analysis, or other legal processes. Create a structured list or tracker: case number, key details, and specific next steps (e.g., “Case #12345: Requires warrants for T-Mobile cell records and suspect’s dropped phone”).
Organize in order of priority, factoring in event timelines. This setup allows you to chip away methodically — perhaps dedicating mornings to warrant writing or afternoons to follow-ups. Tools like spreadsheets or case management software can help, but the key is maintaining a clear, actionable overview to avoid chaos.
Consolidate: Streamline and close unsolvable cases
Not every case can be solved, and that’s the reality of the job. In the consolidation phase, review your organized list to identify which cases lack viable leads. Close or inactivate these efficiently, freeing up time for promising investigations.
A bonus tip here: Invest in training your agency’s patrol officers, as their initial reports form the backbone of your success, accounting for 90–95% of investigative breakthroughs. Highlight exemplary reports during lineups or briefings: “Officer X’s robbery report was outstanding because it included witness details, on-scene camera footage, and stolen credit card numbers.” This encourages better practices agency-wide.
Conversely, address shortcomings privately: pull an officer aside and explain how incomplete investigations hinder solvability. Emphasize setting the team up for success without public criticism. Developing frontline responders not only improves report quality but also boosts overall investigative outcomes.
Solve: Bring cases to resolution
Finally, focus on solving the viable cases. If you’ve identified a suspect with probable cause, gather all evidence (reports, warrants, and forensics) and prepare for submission to your local prosecutor (e.g., state attorney, district attorney, or solicitor). Execute arrests, file charges, and close the loop.
This phase is the payoff: by following EPOCS, you’ve methodically built toward resolutions, ensuring no critical steps are overlooked.
Conclusion: Reducing stress and enhancing success
The EPOCS method — Evaluate, Prioritize, Organize, Consolidate and Solve — offers a practical roadmap for new detectives navigating heavy caseloads. It promotes efficient time management, reduces burnout, and maximizes successful prosecutions, ultimately benefiting victims and communities.
Implementing EPOCS won’t eliminate the challenges of investigative work, but it will help you stay proactive and organized. As you adapt it to your unit’s specifics, remember: success starts with structure. Give it a try on your next caseload and watch your productivity soar.
Tactical takeaway
Start your next shift by running EPOCS on your entire caseload: skim every file, flag anything with expiring evidence, batch your warrant work, clear out the dead ends and then push one viable case forward before the day ends.
About the author
Mark Mitchell is a 17-year law enforcement veteran currently assigned to the Patrol Division of the Hollywood (Florida) Police Department. Throughout his career, he has been assigned to various units including Drug Task Force, Interdiction, Street Crimes, Field Training, Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics. His last assignment was as a Task Force Officer on the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Ofc. Mitchell has been investigating complex cases involving gang activity for 15 years. His investigative experience involves conducting investigations as both an investigator and Undercover Officer for Gangs, Narcotics, Homicide, Domestic Terrorism, Public Corruption, Counter-Intelligence, Organized Crime, Cyber-Crimes, Internet Crimes Against Children, Art Fraud, Violent Crime and White Collar Crime cases. He was awarded Florida Gang Investigator of the Year by the Florida Gang Investigators Association and Task Force Officer of the Year by the FBI.
He has provided instruction on gangs to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, local Public Safety Academies, and for the Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina Gang Investigator Associations. He has also testified as a gang expert in the 17th Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida. Contact him at mmitch3505@gmail.com.
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