NCJ Number
53805
Date Published
1978
Length
239 pages
Annotation
THE MAJOR CASE TEAM CONCEPT, A COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT TO POOL POLICE SERVICES OR RESOURCES IN MICHIGAN TO SOLVE A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT CRIME OR SERIES OF CRIMES, IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE TEAM CONCEPT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE COURSE OF AN INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF SEVEN POSSIBLY RELATED MURDERS OF CHILDREN IN THE WOODWARD CORRIDOR REGION OF SUBURBAN DETROIT, MICH. BETWEEN EARLY 1976 AND MARCH 1977, FIVE GIRLS AND TWO BOYS WERE ABDUCTED, ASSAULTED, AND EVENTUALLY MURDERED AND DUMPED ALONG ROADWAYS, IN DITCHES, OR ON PARKING LOTS IN THE AREA. AS THE MURDERS ACCUMULATED AND THE INVESTIGATIONS INTENSIFIED, CERTAIN AD HOC INVESTIGATORY ARRANGEMENTS AND STRUCTURES DEVELOPED THAT WERE EVENTUALLY EVALUATED AND AMENDED TO CREATE AN EFFICIENT TEAM FORMULA FOR INTERJURISDICTIONAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ACTUAL OR SUSPECTED TRANSJURISDICTIONAL CRIMES, ESPECIALLY MULTIPLE INCIDENTS THAT ARE SEEMINGLY RELATED. THE TEAM CONCEPT FACILITATES FUTURE POLICE COOPERATION BY PROVIDING FOR PREOPERATIONAL ORGANIZATION, PLANNING, AND TRAINING BY NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS THAT MAY EVENTUALLY NEED TO INTERACT IN THE INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN TARGET INCIDENTS. FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE SEVEN MURDERS, THEIR INITIAL INVESTIGATION, AND THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE TEAM APPROACH, A MANUAL OUTLINES THE CODIFIED MAJOR CASE TEAM ELEMENTS, WITH ATTENTION TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMAND POST, FIELD OPERATIONS, AND SUPPORT SERVICES. EVALUATING TEAM OPERATIONS IS ALSO DISCUSSED. THE BULK OF THE VOLUME IS DEVOTED TO APPENDIXES COVERING THE HEADQUARTERS PHYSICAL PLANT, PERSONNEL AND BUILDING SECURITY, TELEPHONE OPERATIONS, TIP ROOM OPERATIONS, COMPUTER ROOM OPERATIONS, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS, AND INTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THE MAJOR CASE TEAM HANDBOOK IS ALSO APPENDED, ALONG WITH A COURT RULING ON THE EXERCISE OF LOCAL POLICE POWERS AND A SUMMARY OF SPECIAL TEAM PROJECTS. VARIOUS FORMS AND MAPS ARE INCLUDED.