Detective Bureau
During the calendar year
2007, the
Glendale Police Department
Detective Bureau conducted a total of 665 investigations.
Of the 665 investigations, 132 were cases turned over for full
investigation. 19 of these cases remain open as active investigations, 16 are
closed as inactive, and 97 were cleared. The
resulting clearance rate is 86%. The
remaining 533 investigations were
done in conjunction with Patrol and Detective Bureau personnel as assists and
follow-ups. These totals show an
increase in assist and follow up investigations by 55. Investigations turned
over for full investigation remained constant. The activity for the Detective
Bureau increased by 9% overall.
Bookings recorded for 2007 totaled 718, of which 88 were repeat bookings
of individuals previously arrested by the Department.
These booking totals show an increase in new bookings of 130 and a
decrease in repeated bookings of 4, for an overall increase in bookings over
2006 of 126.
The significant increase in activity is notable as it occurred during a
year in which two of its personnel were absent for significant periods of time.
Lieutenant of Detectives Herlache was gone from March 30, 2007 to June
16, 2007 while attending the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, and Detective
Bichler was absent due to a serious duty incurred injury from September 6, 2007
to October 16, 2007. Detective
Bichler returned to work with restrictions on October 16, 2007 and was not
released to full duty until December 2, 2007.
We are thankful that he survived the accident and has made a full
recovery. Special thanks to
Detectives Troy Nitschke and Greg Lofy for the extra work they took on as a
result of these absences.
2007
also marked the move of the Detectives to our new office in a remodeled section
of the original police building. During
the second half of 2006 the offices occupied by the Police School Liaison
Officer (PSLO) and the Crime Prevention Officer (CPO) were vacated, the wall
separating them was removed, and a larger, more functional Detective Bureau was
constructed. The PSLO and CPO were
relocated to the office previously occupied by the Sergeants.
Of particular significance
to the Detective Bureau was the implementation of the
Glendale Police Department
Computer Forensics Unit. The unit,
which has oversight by the Detective Bureau, is staffed by highly trained
computer forensic specialists consisting of a Sergeant and Patrol Officer and is
located in an office adjacent to the Detective Bureau.
The unit has obtained the latest in forensic computer hardware and
software and has recently been awarded a federal grant (approximately
$13,000.00) for additional equipment and training. Sergeant Mike Morris, who
supervises the day to day operations of the unit, and his partner, Officer
Thomas Treder, completed the necessary training in early 2007 and began working
cases almost immediately. All
casework is done on a time permitting basis, barring exigent circumstances,
resulting in an average work time per case of approximately 8 weeks. If a case
is worked full time, the average time of completion is approximately 2 weeks.
A total of 5 cases, involving incidents of suicide, fraud, and the sale
of narcotics were worked by the unit for the Detective Bureau in 2007.
Since the State of
Wisconsin
began requiring recorded interviews of all juvenile and felony adult arrestees
in 2005, the Detective Bureau has taken on the role of not only ensuring that
this requirement and related policies are followed, but also one of managing the
recorded files. All required
interviews are electronically recorded to DVD and inventoried as evidence.
In 2007, a total of 221 interviews were recorded.
148 of these interviews were conducted by patrol personnel, 72 were
conducted by Detective Bureau personnel, and 1 was done by an outside agency.
Another administrative
function of the Detective Bureau is the management of our booking and mug shot
system. On February 15, 2007 the Department began capturing mug shot images
using cameras and software associated with our electronic fingerprint scanning
system. A total of 868 subjects were photographed in 2007.
These images were taken in conjunction with full bookings as well as
traffic and warrant arrests. After
the images are captured, they are transferred by Detective Bureau personnel to
the Department’s record system and appear as a thumbnail attached to the
offender’s in house record.
The Detective Bureau also
continues to manage the evidence, photograph, and fingerprint files, as well as
assist with the coordination of the City’s liquor, special gathering, and
transient merchant permits.
Notable achievements by
Detective Bureau personnel in 2007:
Ø
Detective Nitschke: Commendation
Award 07-29-07 Shooting investigation.
Ø
Detective Bichler: Commendation
Award 07-29-07 Shooting investigation.
Ø
Detective Nitschke: Commendation
Award 11-19-07 Attempt homicide investigation.
Ø
Detective Bichler: Commendation
Award 11-19-07 Attempt homicide investigation.
