Detective Call Out

Policy: Detective Call-Out

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: N/A

Issue Date: November 01, 2024

Reviewed Date: April 21, 2026

Revised Date: April 21, 2026

 

Purpose:

This policy establishes guidelines for Detective call-out procedures.

Policy:

It is the policy of the UW-Platteville Police Department (UWPPD) to call out the Detective/Investigator for certain serious crimes and circumstances outside of normal duty hours. 

Follow-up investigations are investigations into crimes beyond the preliminary investigation performed by the first responding officer(s) at the scene. Follow-up investigations are generally the responsibility of the Department’s Detective; however, Patrol Officers may conduct their own follow-up investigations for those less serious crimes that do not require that utilization of resources generally unavailable to Patrol Officers.

Definitions:

N/A

Procedures:

  1. Circumstances warranting the call-out of the Detective
    1. Crimes that involve death or serious bodily injury which could result in death.
    2. Officer involved shooting or shots fired call without officer’s return fire.
    3. Anytime the Missing Student Policy is enacted.
    4. Kidnappings or endangered missing child calls.
    5. Suspicious or unusual death including suicides.
    6. Fatal motor vehicle crash or serious motor vehicle injury with the possibility of death as a result.
    7. Armed or Unarmed Robbery Cases
    8. Arson or suspicious fires of serious nature
    9. Breaking and entering where processing scene is necessary
    10. Assistance with cases involving search warrants
    11. Large-scale narcotics related crimes
    12. Rape & other serious sexual assault cases (This does not include cases that are reported after the fact, or instances where the victim prefers a gender that is not the same as the Detective. In those cases, the Detective will work with the officers involved and provide support where needed.  Finally, picking up the SANE kits from the hospital, should be completed by the officer on shift when the call comes in.)
    13. Any felony involving time sensitive follow-ups that the officers themselves cannot fulfill.

Note: Any above listed calls where the Detective is NOT called in shall be documented by incident documentation by On-Duty Officer (i.e. suspect in custody and gives confession, taken over by other agency)

  1. In general, the responsibility for conducting follow up investigations will be with the Detective; however, the patrol section maybe assigned for some follow-up investigations.
    1. Cases involving specialized skills, knowledge or ability should be assigned to those officers having that expertise
    2. Detectives shall periodically attend patrol officer shift briefings, and update officers on case status.
  2. Responsibilities of Patrol Officers
    1. Officers encountering a situation necessitating the call-out of a detective, shall adhere to the following guidelines:
      1. Calls to the Detective should not be made until a supervisor has been notified and provided information to appropriately assess the situation and authorizes the call.
      2. In cases involving obvious natural deaths, officers shall not call the Detective unless specifically requested to do so by the Coroner. If a call-out is warranted according to this policy, suspects/arrestees should only be questioned or advised of constitutional rights by patrol personnel when authorized by the responding detective or investigative supervisor.
      3. The initial responding officers assigned to a major crime scene shall not be released before the detective's arrival unless relieved by a Supervisor.
      4. Crime scenes shall be secured and cordoned off as quickly as possible. In cases involving violent death or injury that is obvious, the information should be conveyed to the responding detective. At no time shall a body be touched or disturbed in any way, except to render first aid or other necessary life-saving techniques, or at the specific direction of the Coroner.
      5. The initial responding officers shall confer with the assigned detective before the completion of any incident reports to ensure that sensitive investigative information is protected. 
  3. Responsibilities of Supervisors
    1. When a request for a detective is made by an officer, the supervisor shall make a full assessment of the situation and determine the need for a call-out. In all cases, as soon as practically possible, the supervisor shall respond to the scene.
    2. The supervisor shall be responsible for determining if the situation complies with the guidelines established in this directive.
    3. The supervisor shall determine whether the detective is available to respond. If not, the supervisor may:
      1.  Direct the On-duty Officer to handle the situation
      2. Attempt to contact the City of Platteville Police Department and/or the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to see if evidence technicians might be available to assist.
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