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What is a cover of interest?

What is the reason that the term "SUSPECT" is now referred to as "PERSON OF INTEREST"? Is this the way law enforcement officials cover their asses just in case their suspects turn out to be innocent?

  • Answer:

    A "suspect" and a "person of interest" are two separate things. A "suspect" is a person who cops suspect committed the crime. A person of interest is someone the police suspect has knowledge that would help solve the crime, but not necessarily was the person who committed the crime. As for "officials cover[ing] their asses," this is not necessary since cops have official immunity. Thus, if a cop accuses you of a crime (which is defamation per se in most states), the cop and the agency is protected from suit.

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The problem is that many police and reporters use the word "suspect" to mean "perpetrator". When they describe the crime, they say "the suspect had a gun", "the suspect wore a blue jacket", etc. Then, when they want to refer to a real suspect, i.e., a known person who is suspected of being the perpetrator, they say "person of interest". They think that calling the person a "suspect" would be claiming that the person is the perpetrator.

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