Advanced Search
News in Brief: Canada, Vancouver Waterfront Fire.
News in Brief: Canada, Vancouver Waterfront Fire. The worst fire in post-war history rages through grain-loading galleries, threatening grain-filled elevators during three hour battle that is marked by spectacular collapse of pier section. Firefighters battle the blaze with hoses, a ladder. Amid burning, smoldering wreckage, a structure (part of dock?) collapses.
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(10:15:38) Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. The CHAIRMAN. Do you recall how you said that, to the best of your recollection? Ms. BRAUN. To the best of my recollection, I explained to him that the office would need to be closed up so that we could go ,through it the next day to look for a suicide note or evidence that would confirm the suicide, The CHAIRMAN. How did he respond to you? Ms. BRAUN. He seemed to understand what I was asking him and, like I said earlier, I do not remember what his exact words were, but he acknowledged that it would be done. The CHAIRMAN. Now, Detective Rolla, you testified while you did not hear the conversation, that Sergeant Braun thereafter, as you were leaving or as you left or when you left, indicated to you the nature of her request to Mr. Watkins; is that correct? Mr. ROLLA. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. She had asked him to seal off the office; is that correct? Mr. ROLLA. She asked him to secure the office because we knew the situation was that we weren't going to be able to be in there that night. Just to have things maintained, we wanted it secured until such time as higher officials could get in there and things could be gone through properly. The CHAIRMAN. Major Hines, the next morning when you had a briefing, who attended? Was Mr. Hubbell there? Mr. HINES. Mr. Hubbell was there. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Nussbaum? Mr. HINES. Mr. Nussbaum was there; Mr. Watkins was there. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Watkins was there? Mr. HINES. Mr. Kennedy was there and Mr. Stephanopoulos was there. There were several other people there that I don't remember. The CHAIRMAN. Those are the people that you specifically recall? Mr. HINES. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. In addition to your advising them as to what you believed to be a suicide, from the initial investigation until you reached that conclusion, was there any other discussion about sealing the office or when you would be given access to the office? Mr. HINES. There was no discussion of when we would be given access to the office. The CHAIRMAN. Do you know when the Park Police first had access to the office? Mr. HINES. It is my understanding on July 22, 1993, 1 believe we first had access to the office. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Chertoff has a question. Mr. CHERTOFF. Something just came to mind; I want to be quite clear on it. Sergeant Braun, on the night of July 20, 1993, you left the Foster residence after the President had arrived? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. CHERTOFF. That's when you had your conversation right before you left, with Mr. Watkins? 156 There's some independent evidence in the record that the President arrived around 11 p.m. I want to be quite clear that at that point in time when you talked to Mr. Watkins, he did not tell you that he had already made arrangements to have someone go into Mr. Foster's office and look for a note. Ms. BRAUN. No, he did not tell me that. Mr. CHERTOFF. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Grams. OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR ROD GRAMS Senator GRAMS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I know we have a short span of time that we're talking about and some of these questions might be similar in nature but , again, I'd like to go back over and to reiterate some of those. Sergeant Braun, why would you consider Vince Foster's office in any way connected-it wasn't a crime scene--with the investigation? How important was that office to your thoughts right after' the incident? Ms. BRAUN. I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say "right after." Senator GRAMS. As you were following the course of your investigation, from the crime scene itself to the thoughts that Vince Fos". ter's office should also be sealed to preserve its integrity as far as the investigation would go. Ms. BRAUN. As you're going through a scene like this, you're going through a particular process. When you initially arrive, your concerns are with the immediate scene, and so we dealt with the immediate scene. Then I dealt with the car: I thought if we didn't find a note at the scene, then the car would be, possibly, the next logical place. Having not found a note, then, in the car, the family becomes the next logical step in trying to confirm Mr. Foster's depression or state of mind, We didn't get any assistance with that. When we spoke with the family, there was no indication from the family that he had been suffering from depression, The only thing left, then, to examine was his place of business. Senator GRAMS. The office was important in your estimation---- Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Senator GRAMS. -immediately and early on in this investigation. Could you go into a little more detail about what you're trained to do when you approach such a crime scene?
Sports: Partridge Shooting.
Sports: Partridge Shooting. Picturesque Castilian countryside is backdrop for last 'shoot' of the season, as trigger-happy hunters wind up a day's work with a big bag of tasty partridge. Hunters pull ammunition out, put bullets into an ammo belt, load weapons. Hunter tracks birds with his rifle aimed, then fires; bird falls from the sky. Various similar shots. A bird dog (retriever?) brings a partridge back in its mouth. Dead birds lie on the ground.
Sports: Photo Finish Race.
Sports: Photo Finish Race. Big thrill of spring meeting at Epsom - the finish of the Blue Riband trial stakes - with three colts fighting for first place and the camera settling the issue. Horse race with a very close finish; swish pan, then image of the photo that shows the winner by a nose. Photo finish.
U.S. Bonds: Snyder Announces Increased Interest.
U.S. Bonds: Snyder Announces Increased Interest. Treasury Secretary John W. Snyder announces bonds with higher percent rate interest and greater savings for American investors. He sits at a desk and tells the viewing audience about improvements in savings bonds, such as interest rates. Sort of a public service announcement or a government advertisement.
In Memoriam: War Dead of Anzio Beachhead Honored.
In Memoriam: War Dead of Anzio Beachhead Honored. Little girls from an orphanage come to the American cemetery where, eight years ago, GI's fought and died to hold a precarious beachhead that led to the eventual capture of Rome. They come to leave their flowers and their prayers. It looks like these children (wearing white dresses) are escorted by monks and nuns as they lay flowers at cross-shaped grave markers in the military cemetery. One little girls kneels by a grave, makes the sign of the cross; touching, sad, respectful. The inscription reads, "Here Rests in Honored Glory a Comrade in Arms Known But to God."
News in Brief: Queen's Birthday.
News in Brief: Queen's Birthday. Dutch citizens turn out by the thousands to pay tribute to their beloved queen on her birthday. A huge floral map of Holland containing two million tulips and hyacynths is their birthday surprise. Citizens walk past the front door of the palace, bringing flowers to Queen Juliana, who waves to them from the steps; her family is there, too. Nice view of the birthday present.
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(10:20:41) Ms. BRAUN. How much detail? Senator GRAMS. To secure the area at the crime scene itself and,, why your concerns were to seal the office. Ms. BRAUN. Initially, at the crime scene, you want to preserve any evidence that's there, and so what I did in order to do that Was to request that the main gate to the fort there be closed and that would prevent any other people from coming into the area to con- taminate it. Senator GRAMS. You wanted to seal that part of the investigation? Ms. BRAUN. Right. Once that was all taken care of, we had processed the area and gotten whatever evidence we felt we needed from that area we left that to go to the family to do the death noti- 157 fication. From there, that becomes your more investigative end of it, more interviews with the family. If Mr. Foster had been seeing a psychiatrist, we would have wanted to try to speak with the psychiatrist just to try to confirm any information they may have been able to provide within the realm of what they could tell us. Then, having not been able to get any information as to his state of mind from the family, no knowledge that they had found a note or anything, his place of business becomes the next logical place to go, as I said earlier. What we wanted to do was to try to preserve it in the condition that he left it. Senator GRAMS. You didn't want the scene, basically, contaminated, either unintentionally or intentionally? Ms. BRAUN. Right. Senator GRAMS. You would consider, then, that his office would be a very important part of this investigation, and that's why you made the request early on, as already has been noted, to Mr. Watkins as you arrived at the home, asking him to make sure that Ms. BRAUN. That request was not made when we arrived. That was as we left. Senator GRAMS. As you left. To me, it means that if you asked that the office be sealed, that you would want it locked; is that correct? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Senator GRAMS. Now, you previously testified that there might be evidence in the office related to the decedent's state of mind? Ms. BRAUN. Right. Senator GRAMS. For example, you might be looking for what? You said a suicide note? Ms. BRAUN. A suicide note, his appointment book indicating that he had an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist, a journal that indicates I've had umpty-nine bad days and I don't know if I can take it anymore, anything that would have helped show that he was really down in. the dumps. Senator GRAMS. When you found out during your investigation that this involved a lawyer's office, was there any other special precautions that you might have taken, as we've heard testimony on attorney-client privilege and things like that, but especially for a high-ranking Member of the Administration, would there have been additional precautions you would have asked for? Ms. BRAUN. I just felt that I was dealing with the people who could take care of my request, and I didn't feel that anything other than trying to prevent people from going into the off-ice was all that was necessary. Senator GRAMS. Just to get the time again, you said that you made the request to Mr. Watkins about scaling the office as you left Ms. BRAUN. Right. Senator GRAMS. -the home. So you had looked at the crime scene. You checked the car. From the car, the home was the next logical spot, and as you left the scene, which was about 10:45 in your estimation, you requested to Mr. Watkins that he seal the office? Ms. BRAUN, Right. 158 Senator GRAMS. At that time he did not say his earlier question, that he might have already called someone. Did you notice him calling anyone while lie was at the home with you? In Ms. BRAUN. Everybody was on the phone. They were the phone was getting passed around. It was in constant use, Senator GRAMS. But he did not tell you, again, that he had asked someone from the White House Administration to go to Vince Fos- ter's office? The CHAIRMAN. Senator, I'm wondering-for purposes of clarification, Detective, you testified the President got there about 11 p.m., and you left shortly thereafter; and it was as you were leaving, so it would have been closer to 11 p.m.? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. I think we ended up leaving closer to 11:10. 1 think the President got there just before 11 p.m. The CHAIRMAN. It would have been between 11 and 11:10 when you spoke to Mr. Watkins and made your request known? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. The CHAIRMAN. Just for clarification. Senator GRAMS. For clarification, we noticed in yesterday's testimony that the security-the doors were opened at 10:42, which would have been at least 15 minutes before you had talked to Mr. Watkins. Mr. Hines, what would you consider the definition to be if someone was asked to seal an office? What would you expect to happen after that request was made? Mr. HINES. I would expect when we said seal the office, that the office would be closed, it would be secured and no one would be entering the office. Senator GRAMS. According to the testimony or in conversations with Sergeant Braun, did you also assume that request had been made early on? Mr. HINES. Yes, I had.
News in Brief: 'Ike' Hailed In Greece.
News in Brief: 'Ike' Hailed In Greece. On tour of Turkey and Greece, to view their defense potentialities for inclusion with other NATO forces, General Dwight Eisenhower is greeted by top Greek officials and tours ancient city. Ike reviews Greek troops, then visits ruins.
News in Brief: California, Seeds Of Democracy.
News in Brief: California, Seeds Of Democracy. Boy and Girl Scouts bring in a harvest of seed packages, collected for Filipino farms by the Committee of Free Asia. 'Seeds for democracy' to help to overcome hunger and privation.
Spring Styles From Paree.
Spring Styles From Paree. Meeting the challenge of rival style centers, French designers put their best foot forward. Display some alluring gowns for spring, with pretty models making the show eye-appealing. A piece of fabric fills the screen. A hand comes into frame & cuts the fabric with scissors to reveal female models stand against a backdrop of sketches of new designs. Dresses, hats, suits, evening gowns - one with a small bustle. Some of the gowns are quite extravagant (glamour, elegant). The women all wear gloves.
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(10:25:46) Senator GRAMS. Did you expect or assume that those steps had been taken? Mr. HINES. I assumed that those steps had been taken. Senator GRAMS. Did you in any way take any steps to follow up on that to make sure the office had been sealed yourself? Mr. HINES. No, outside of my conversations with Mr. Burton. That's the only thing I did, Senator GRAMS. So you were satisfied that those steps had been taken in those conversations that you had? Mr. HINES. Yes, I was. Senator GRAMS. Mr. Rolla, do you remember any thoughts You had on the matter? Do you recall discussing the need to seal the office with Sergeant Braun? Mr. ROLLA. Yes, I did. Senator GRAMS. What did you talk about, or how did you come to that conclusion as well? Mr. ROLLA. First, let me say that there's no legal authority for us to tell them to seal and lock that office. Senator GRAMS. Whose? Mr. ROLLA. There's no legal authority. Senator GRAMS. To tell who? 159 Mr. ROLLA. This was based on cooperation, which we would normally get in a death investigation. If it was a businessman or whatever, and we had to go to his office, we would ask them to please keep it the way it was, we would like to come over there, They can be there while we look through it. We're not looking for national secrets or corporate secrets. We're looking for something that says goodbye, cruel world, or something to determine the state of mind. That's what we're looking for. That's what my thought was. When we asked-we talked about it later, and she mentioned right before we left that she had told David Watkins, asked him if he could seal the office, and he said yes, and that was basically it, We figured we were getting cooperation from a high-level Government official. Senator GRAMS. You said you had no legal authority, but what you were doing was making a suggestion or what you would consider something that was a normal course of action? Mr. ROLLA. It was a normal course of action. Like I said, we wanted to keep it preserved, preserve it the way it was, if at all possible, so we could go in there and find things the way they were. Senator GRAMS. So, basically, trying to do your job. Mr. ROLLA. Exactly, Senator GRAMS. You expected that would be the same type of action that others would be taking. Mr. ROLLA. The question was asked that the office be sealed, and the answer was that it would be. If they came up with a reason it couldn't be, that would be one thing. We felt we had cooperation that it- would be done. That's all. Senator GRAMS. I find it similar that you had the same ideas that the office would be one part that should be included in this investigation. Mr. Hubbell, one of his first thoughts was to make sure that the office was sealed, to protect the integrity of the office so it wouldn't be contaminated, and others should have been thinking along those same lines. Evidently, for one reason or another, those steps were not taken or followed. I thank you, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you. Senator Sarbanes. Senator SARBANES. Mr. Ben-Veniste, Mr. BEN-VENISTE, Thank you, Senator. Detective Rolla, what does your training tell you to do in a circumstance or a situation where you have come upon a violent death by apparent gunshot in terms of control of the area? Mr. ROLLA. On any crime scene you're going to seal off a certain section of the area large enough to search and keep individuals out of that area. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So you want to secure the area and you want to take control of the situation? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. That's what your training teaches you? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE, Now, you made every effort, as we have heard today, to take control of the situation at Fort Marcy Park to ensure 160 that the scene of Mr. Foster's death was not disturbed. Is that so, sir? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. On the basis of your review of the evidence at Fort Marcy Park, everything that you saw was consistent with an apparent suicide; is that correct? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct, keeping an open mind to other options based on the physical evidence that was in front of us, it was all leading right to a suicide. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. In fact, later that evening you and Sergeant Braun had advised the Foster family that this was an apparent suicide?
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(10:30:12) Mr. ROLLA, Yes, I did. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Do you recall that evening that Webster Hubbell asked to be allowed to break the news to Mrs. Foster, but that you declined to allow him to do that? I'll get into the reason, the good reason for that in a moment. Mr. ROLLA. I have a good reason if that happened, but we never, talked to him at all that night. The only contact we had with him was when he moved Investigator Braun out of the way from Cheryl Anthony. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. We've heard testimony about that, and we'll get to that. You have no recollection of Mr. Hubbell asking to be permitted to break the news (10:31:08)(tape #10115 ends)
Water Birds - Wood Duck
(Tape 1) 05:54:27 Male wood duck, CU of head and bill 05:55:11 Female wood duck bathes and preens, CU of head 05:56:15 Male wood duck feeds 05:58:47 Male wood duck, CU of bill 06:01:54 Male wood duck moves nervously in water, flys off
Water Birds - Wood Duck
(Tape 1) 05:47:19 Female wood duck in tree
Revolution: Strong Man Batista Takes Over In Cuba.
Revolution: Strong Man Batista Takes Over In Cuba. Revolution comes to Havana, as 'Strong Man' Gen. Fulgencio Batista, who overthrew government back in 1933 to set himself in power, stages a lightning coup and ousts the incumbent Pres. Prio Socarras. Various shots of soldiers, tanks in the streets amidst an orderly crowd. Armed troops guard a doorway, turn away a few people. Man (Batista?) speaks at microphones. Armed soldiers take their places on a rooftop (like snipers, only not shooting right now).
News in Brief: 119 Dead In RR Wreck.
News in Brief: 119 Dead In RR Wreck. Gruesome scenes of death on the rails, twenty miles outside Rio de Janeira. Two cars of one train jump the tracks, into path of speeding suburban electric. Over one hundred dead, and hundreds were injured. Various shots of twisted, broken train cars.
News in Brief: Germany, Smuggling In Berlin.
News in Brief: Germany, Smuggling In Berlin. West Berlin police are coping with an increasing flood of goods from the Eastern sector. Large hauls of smuggled goods are made at the city's border, and carted away to warehouses. Police stop various vehicles and inspect them for contraband. Some scenes (just for the camera?) of the officials actually finding some hidden goods. Scenes at a warehouse show piles of confiscated merchandise.
News in Brief: England, Needle In A Haystack.
News in Brief: England, Needle In A Haystack. It's "Sewing Week" in London, so in honor of that is an unusual contest -- trying to find a needle in a haystack. Literally. A crowd rushes toward the haystack and people start pulling it apart, some folks actually climbing on top of the thing. Funny. Shot of hand using a magnet amid the hay. Stages shot of winner pulling needle (with yarn or something on it) out of the straw. Winner receives a sewing machine. This is a kind of comic portrayal of people actively searching for something.
July 20, 1995 - Part 2
(10:30:01)(tape # 10116 begins) Mr. BEN-VENISTE. In fact, later that evening you and Sergeant Braun had advised the Foster family that this was an apparent suicide? (10:30:12) Mr. ROLLA, Yes, I did. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Do you recall that evening that Webster Hubbell asked to be allowed to break the news to Mrs. Foster, but that you declined to allow him to do that? I'll get into the reason, the good reason for that in a moment. Mr. ROLLA. I have a good reason if that happened, but we never, talked to him at all that night. The only contact we had with him was when he moved Investigator Braun out of the way from Cheryl Anthony. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. We've heard testimony about that, and we'll get to that. You have no recollection of Mr. Hubbell asking to be permitted to break the news (10:31:08)(tape #10115 ends) to Mrs. Foster that her husband was dead? Mr. ROLLA. I was already at the front door when they were coming up to the first landing. I've never talked to them. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. The reason why you needed to break the news and advise Mrs. Foster was because your manual and your training tells you that you are the appropriate person to do that? Mr. ROLLA. We had, supposedly, close friends of the family with us, two friends, Mr. Watkins and his wife. We didn't want a whole bunch of people. Let me explain to you what happens when you, make a death notification. Even if he did it, the question is going to be why, what, when, who, where, and they're going to have to come to us anyway. So what happens when you make a death noti- fication is you break the news, very grievous, a period of intense mourning, grief, and then, whether there's shock, whatever, there's a period of information exchanged. The family wants to know what happens and we tell them, and we get information from them. It may seem a little cold or heartless. We were not. We were very sensitive. It's probably the worst thing we have to do is tell someone their loved one is dead, for whatever reason. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You weren't doing this out of coldness or heartlessness, that is, being the ones to advise Mrs.Foster. You were doing it out of training and the instruction of your manaual and the authorities that you looked to for guidance; correct? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did you tell Mrs. Foster that no suicide note had been found in Fort Marcy Park? Mr. ROLLA. No, she never asked that question, and I didn't advise it, 161 Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did you advise anyone there that evening that no note had been found? Mr. ROLLA. I tell you, I don't know if anyone asked me that question. I don't remember. I may have told them. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. If they asked you, you would have told them? Mr. ROLLA. No, it was not a secret. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. These people were grieving; they were looking to you for help as well as comfort from their friends and relatives; correct? Mr. ROLLA. Yes; correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. There wasn't any reason why you wouldn't tell them? Mr. ROLLA. No, there would be no secret about it. Mr. BEN-VENISTE, In fact, you've indicated that you did search for a suicide note at the scene of Mr. Foster's death? Mr. ROLLA. We searched the scene, searched his person. His vehicle was on the scene. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You didn't search his person at the scene, did you? Mr. ROLLA. After it was pronounced, we emptied his pockets. Yes, I did remove his personal property and search them. Mr. BEN NISTE. At the scene or at the hospital? Mr. ROLLA. At the scene. We went to the hospital because I happened to miss his car keys in his right front pants pocket. Mr. BEN-VENISTE, So you made a cursory search of Mr. Foster's pants pockets, but you did not at that time locate the set of keys to the car? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. I neglected to turn his pocket inside out. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You did not find a note, clearly? Mr. ROLLA. No, there's no note. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You looked in his suit coat, which was in the car, did you not? Mr. ROLLA. Yes, I did. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You did not find any note in the suit coat? Mr. ROLLA. No. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You looked in his car, did you not? Mr. ROLLA. Yes. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You looked on the dashboard? Mr. ROLLA. I searched the car, the trunk, the interior, the papers that were in the vehicle. There was no note. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You looked through the papers. You looked on the seats. Did you look under the seats? Mr. ROLLA, Yes. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. In the front and back? Mr. ROLLA. Front and back. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did you look under the carpet in the front? Mr. ROLLA. Under the mats. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You looked under the mats. Did you yank up the carpet? Mr. ROLLA. No, I didn't pull up the carpet. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did you look under the hood? Mr. ROLLA. No. 162 Mr. BEN-VENISTE. I mean, obviously you're not going to look in all of these places because your training teaches you that people who commit suicide and leave notes leave those notes where they will likely be discovered; is that correct?
News in Brief: Koje Island Riots.
News in Brief: Koje Island Riots. "This prison island, already the scene of violence between Communist prisoners and anti-Red converts, flares into violence again. Communist prisoners started the riot by jeering at converted prisoners." **Note: The violence described is not shown in this footage. A couple of Korean prisoners of war (POWs) enter gate to compound, past African American MP. Shot through barbed wire of a few prisoners, one seems happy. Man (Captain Walter Leahy?) poses for camera, bandage on his head, holding a rock Leahy claims wounded him; with him is General Francis Dodd (?). Other shots through the barbed wire.
News in Brief: U.S. Aid For Austria.
News in Brief: U.S. Aid For Austria. Marshall Plan aid brings a new steel industry to Austria. Blast furnaces and other equipment go into high gear, with ore coming from nearby mines. Dynamic proof of U.S. aid helping revive free Europe. Workers and officials at opening ceremony. The steel plant equipment starts up.
News in Brief: Korea, Rhee Visits Battleship.
News in Brief: Korea, Rhee Visits Battleship. President Syngman Rhee of the South Korea Republic arrives by helicopter for an official visit on board the U.S.S. Wisconsin, which has been trading blows with the Reds off Wonsan. Rhee and his (Austrian) wife get off helicopter, greet people, etc.
July 20, 1995 - Part 2
(10:35:24) Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE, Not behind the file cabinet, not buried in some other material, but where people can find them. Is that so? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Detective Braun-Sergeant Braun now. Congratulations on your promotion. You were training Detective Rolla on the evening of July 20, 1993; correct? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. How long had you worked together? Ms. BRAUN. Probably about a month. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You were the more experienced investigator on the scene; is that correct? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Your experience told you that if someone was going to leave a suicide note, the likelihood is that it would be left in a place where it could be discovered? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. What is the point of having a report of investigation? Ms. BRAUN, Our criminal reports? Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Yes. Ms. BRAUN. It is to document what occurred, what actions we took. Mr, BEN-VENISTE. The idea is to memorialize for purposes of later referral the important things that have either been observed, taken into custody or done in connection with your investigation? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So when you're asked a question today, what time did you depart Mr. Foster's home on the evening of July 20, 1993, you don't have to guess. You can look at your report and it says 23:10; correct? Ms. BRAUN. Correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So you know that by writing a contemporaneous note and then typing it up in a report, that you will have satisfactory information for later reference or inquiry about an important event, that is, when you left the Foster home; correct? Ms. BRAUN, That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Now, at any point that evening-let me reiterate what I think you've already testified. You were in plain clothes rather than uniform? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, sir. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. The house began to fill up quickly with friends and relatives of the Foster family to provide solace and share in the grief; correct? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. At any point, do you recall making a request to search the Foster home? Ms. BRAUN, No, we did not. 163 Mr. BEN-VENISTE. That was because you did not think it was appropriate to do so, I take it? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. That's their private place. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Nothing in your training tells you that in a suicide investigation you ought to attempt to search the home? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Do you recall asking whether a suicide note had been found? Ms. BRAUN. No, I don't recall asking that. We spoke to different individuals at the scene-I'm sorry, at the home, and we were trying to obtain information through communication with them regarding Mr. Foster's state of mind. Normally, those are things that spontaneously come out at a death notification. The family is usually very forthcoming with that kind of information. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Do you specifically recall asking Mrs. Foster whether a note had been found? Ms. BRAUN. I did not communicate with Mrs. Foster. Investigator Rolla did. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Detective Rolla, did you specifically ask Mrs. Foster whether a note had been found? Mr. ROLLA. No. What we asked, basically, was did they see this coming, was there any indication of depression or anything. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. But I'm focusing on the note right now. Mr. ROLLA. No, we didn't ask for a note. Mr. BEN-VENISTE- Did you ask her to search for a note or help her search for a note? Mr. ROLLA. We asked her to please look around. If she finds anything out of the ordinary, if she finds a note or anything, please give us a call. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So you did ask her? Mr. ROLLA. Yes, we asked her. Mr. BEN-VENISTE, You left it to Mrs. Foster to do the search at the house? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. It did not occur to you and it would have been extremely inappropriate to have requested that the house be sealed in some way as though it were the scene of Mr. Foster's violent death? Mr. ROLLA, No, that would be ridiculous. We'd look for cooperation.