They both looked at each other -- the surly Supeman with fists clenched, and the well-dressed figure of Clark." The Sheriff and Tibbs arrived to examine the corpse.The inexperienced Sheriff gave the body a cursory look, but Tibbs - when called upon, began to perform a very thorough and complete clinical examination o find clues and signs, beginning with the touching of the victim's palms and feet." Early in the film (at about the 27 minute mark), one of the secondary characters, a police detective, commented with foreboding caution about the hot-house atmosphere of the summer's heat-wave that was inspiring more crimes to be committed:"When it gets hot, people try to kill each other.Because "somebody" complained, and the Lieutenant doesn't wish to antagonize any higher-ups in the hierarchy of command, Bannion he is not only advised but thentoldto get off the case due to "pressure calls from upstairs" - from he Police Commissioner Higgins (Howard Wendell).