If there is a bond of loyalty between a potential witness and the suspect, the investigator should what?

• A. Interview them separately
• B. Proceed to interrogate the witness as though they were the offender
• C. End conversation
• D. Treat them as hostile

Answer: (B)

When a witness has a loyalty bond with the suspect, their statements may be colored by protection or bias. In that situation, using a direct, structured interrogation approach helps uncover the truth. Treating the witness as though they were the offender signals that you expect straightforward, verifiable information and you’ll challenge inconsistencies, which can reveal what really happened and what the witness knows. This method presses for clarity and reduces the risk that loyalty will mask important details.

Interviewing the witness separately might still leave their loyalty bias in play, ending the conversation forfeits the opportunity to gather critical information, and treating them as hostile is inappropriate and counterproductive. The direct, interrogation-style approach is chosen to thoroughly test credibility and uncover facts despite the loyalty dynamic.