What's it take to be a good witness?

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BY ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star

You’re walking down the street one day when suddenly a man is running toward you with a woman chasing him.

“Stop!” she yells.

Before you know it, the two have rushed past and are turning the corner.

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Turns out, you were the only witness to a purse-snatching — the only person who saw the thief’s face.

And you don’t remember a thing.

Being a witness to a crime is a challenge because there’s no way to predict when or if or how you’ll be called on to describe what you saw.

John McQuinn, Lincoln’s chief city prosecutor, said remembering details and providing testimony can be especially tough for people who have never been witnesses or testified before.

“I think that testifying in court is similar to any other experience,” he said. “It is somewhat beneficial, perhaps, if you have done it before, because you know what to expect.

“There are police officers, naturally, who are witnesses very frequently.”

Lincoln Police Capt. Jon Sundermeier said bank tellers and cashiers are more likely than average citizens to witness a crime at some point. People with those jobs especially, he said, should be prepared.

Still, average citizens could also benefit from a lesson on being good witnesses. A few tips:

-- Physical descriptions like height, weight, hair color and eye color of the suspect are helpful to police. In particular, look for and take note of identifying marks like tattoos and deformities.

-- Clothing descriptions can be helpful, especially right after a crime is committed. Also, remember if the suspect’s clothing was expensive-looking or torn and ragged.

-- If the suspect drops anything at the scene, remember it and tell police. Try to picture if the suspect was carrying anything, too.

-- The suspect’s speech patterns can be a big help for police.

-- If you see the suspect drive away, remember the license plate number and a description of the vehicle. Also, try to remember which direction he or she headed and watch the person until he or she is out of view.

-- If the suspect reminds you of anyone you know, remember this. Similar characteristics can be helpful in a lineup or when talking to police about the incident.

-- Search your memory: You might remember seeing the suspect somewhere before the crime.

-- Don’t discuss what you saw with other witnesses.

“If you talk to other people, then you’re gonna be influenced by what they say,” Sundermeier said.

-- If possible, write down what you saw without taking into account news reports on the incident and other eyewitnesses.

-- If you don’t know something, admit it.

“It tends to, in my mind, lend some credibility to them (the witness),” Sundermeier said.

In short, try to remember as much as possible, but don’t fill in the blanks. The best way to do that is to be calm and prepared.

“Essentially, the real trick to being a good witness is recognizing during the event that you’re going to be a witness,” Sundermeier said. “Most people don’t come to that realization until it’s too late.”

Reach Zach Pluhacek at 473-7395 or zpluhacek@journalstar.com.