Writing a book - need info from police officers or those in the know

[Killarney]

I'm writing a mystery novel. The scene I'm concerned about surrounds a woman's visit to the police station to ask questions about her sister's death. Her sister died a year ago--she fell from a bridge and it was called an accident. Open and shut case. Police are not involved now, it's closed. The sister has her own theory, though.

Anyway, I want to make sure that nothing I've written wouldn't happen in real life. Thankful for any input!

I wrote it so that the woman has an appointment with an officer to discuss the case. A young, rookie female officer meets with her at her desk in the station. She asks if the woman is family and they work out the details of that. Then, they discuss the case.

Questions: would someone be able to just call the station and request an appt to go over a case like that? Would that person have to prove that they are a family member? How much of the case would the officer discuss? (It's a closed-case.) Would the officer disclose another person's alibi?

Thanks. :)

On edit: I should also mention that the woman just found out that she has a sister. No one knew prior to now, including the police.

[Worst Username Ever]

1. It is more likely that the police would call her and set up an appointment

at her house, rather than wait for her to call and come to the station. The Police will already know who her relatives are, and will want to talk to all of the immediate family. Suicide, homicide, accident, whatever.

on edit: also, she would not be meeting with a rookie. Anything that has to do with a death would be with a detective, likely at least 3-5 years on the force (but for homicide cases, usually a vet). Rookies are out in the squad cars giving traffic tickets.

[Killarney]

2. I should have mentioned

She just found out that she's this woman's sister. No one knew that, so the police would not have contacted her before.

[ewagner]

3. She would

ask the officer to see a copy of the officer's report that was filed. The police liason would come armed with the report. Might also ask if tapes of the radio conversations are available from the time the initial call came in until the officers left the scene. (Most departments, even small ones, record the radio traffic between dispatch and the cars.)