What is the process for protecting evidence at a crime scene?

What is the process for protecting evidence at a crime scene? Investigators may or may not be the first officer on the scene. In smaller agencies, the officer or deputy may serve as both the first officer and the investigator simply because of limited personnel resources. After reading about the response to a scene, read Protecting Your Crime Scene by Dick Warrington and published by Forensicmag.com. Based on the scenario below, you are the investigating officer and have arrived at the scene 15 minutes after the first responding officer. The suspect is no longer present and the outer perimeter of the scene has been secured by the first responding officer. Known facts of the case: Location: Rural area, two-lane blacktop road. Weather: Thunderstorms in the area. Traffic: Heavy but being redirected by other officers from the scene vicinity. Other information: The responding officer tells you a motorist flagged her down after seeing what looked like a body in the ditch. The responding officer confirms finding a deceased male in the road ditch in a decomposing state. Based on the known facts, describe four actions you would take immediately to protect the scene and evidence. Explain your reasons.