Writing a Romantic Suspense Novel- Need Answers about Law Enforcement and 911 Procedure? [View all]

[Liberalynn]

Okay I can't pay, I'm on a fixed income, and have never earned a dime from my writing so far. I will credit DU Lounge if my book ever ends up getting published though.

At my writer's group they said I had a strong story, they loved my dialog, and think I am on to something that could eventually get published, but they questioned some technical aspects about police and emergency procedure.

Not to go into too much detail but here's the situation: An off duty FBI agent witnesses a man fleeing what the agent believes to be a vacant house. He becomes suspicious and gives brief chase but the unidentified subject gets away.

The door on the house is open so the agent decides to take a look around to make sure no suspicious activity is going on, exigent circumstances, and finds a woman who has been hit on the back of the head. She's regained consciousness, has slight but not prolific bleeding around the impact area, and is coherent. There is also a damaged wall and skeletal remains visible through the hole in it.

The other writers' problem with this part is would the agent immediately start giving her first aid ? I struggled with that! I wondered whether he would first ask her if she was alone in the house, and then want to determine that for sure, because both of them could be in danger of another attack, if the fleeing man had accomplices that were still hiding somewhere in the house.

Now I am thinking he'd probably call for backup and an ambulance first. So some input on what the sequence of his actions would be from someone who knows proper procedure would help.

How much would he say to the victim? I had him identify himself, ask her if she were alone in the house, what she was doing there? Another writer in my group said she didn't think he would go beyond identifying himself, to someone who was injured and a victim.

Also on the 911 call how much information would be imparted? I had him identify himself as an agent, tell them of the injured woman, the suspect that got away, and the skeletal remains. A former Air Force pilot in our group said he doesn't think an FBI agent would give out that much information over a 911 call. If this is TMI what would he say? Would he just identify himself, ask for back up, an ambulance and the morgue?

Any guidance would help. I am not close to anyone in Law Enforcement and I'd feel strange about calling the Sheriff's Department to ask for research help on a book when I am not a published author yet.

Thank you in advance for any input.