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"We do an objective investigation, it doesn't matter who the suspect was," said Lt. Jim Collins, who supervised Scotty's homicide probe.

This is the maroon that was "on the scene" at the VD's and didn't know they had discovered blood in the garage, or what appeared to be blood in the stairwell.

San Diego's finest...they should work for the postal service.

Left out the other all-star from that article: Ret. Capt. Ron Newman. Now a councilman in Escondito.

In the weeks that followed, Collins and Sgt. Judy Woods visited the van Dams each night to update them on the investigation's progress and answer their questions. After a long day at work, they would spend two to three hours with the couple.

"I was in the van Dams' house more than mine," Woods said.

The Austin American-Statesman (TX), Jan 11, 2003
Van Dam investigator in Austin for training; San Diego lieutenant who helped nab killer of 7-year-old offers tips to area officers.

Byline: Tony Plohetski, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

A leading investigator in the case of a California girl who was kidnapped and murdered by a neighbor was in Austin on Friday teaching law officers how to handle such investigations.

San Diego police Lt. Jim Collins, who handled the case of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, told more than 200 officers and deputies how to expand missing person searches to include neighbors, how to effectively get information from them and what tools are available for such investigations.

"Child abductions are cases that really grip investigators themselves," Collins said. "Your emotions start to run high right away."

Collins was invited to address Central Texas law officers by Austin police officials as part of the department's annual training. The department spends about $150,000 on training each year, which includes guest speakers.

"When you get that kind of practical experience, it helps us," Assistant Police Chief Jimmy Chapman said. "It's like, 'We lived through this, and here is the good and the bad.' "

Danielle's killer, David Westerfield, was sentenced to death.

Although Collins and his officers gathered enough evidence to convict Westerfield, he said the department should have handled some aspects of the investigation differently.

He encouraged officers to conduct a full forensic sweep of a victim's house within the first few hours after a person is reported missing. Collins said his department waited too long.

Collins also said dogs should be used to trace the victim's scent.

Other officers attending the four-hour training were from Williamson and Bastrop counties, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the University of Texas police force.

Austin police Lt. Larry Oliver, who handles missing person cases, said he found the session educational.

"We found out what they did right, what they did wrong and what they wished they would have done," he said.