Special Operations Bureau

The Special Operations Bureau is responsible for many DCI core operations, the activities and programs of the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center (WSIC), the division's Child Abduction Response Team (CART), and gaming enforcement.

 

Special Operations Programs

 

Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center (WSIC)/Homeland Security

The Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center (WSIC), Wisconsin’s designated primary intelligence fusion center, was formed after 9/11 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security promote information sharing across multiple jurisdictions. WSIC serves as a focal point for information sharing in the national, state and local environment. WSIC works closely with federal, state, local, tribal, and campus law enforcement partners along with fire service, emergency management, public health, military and private sector agencies. WSIC maintains sophisticated information gathering and sharing networks statewide and routinely delivers intelligence briefings for high level government officials, top law enforcement officials and partner agency representatives throughout Wisconsin.

 

WSIC staff facilitate intelligence and information sharing in a number of key areas including, but not limited to: human trafficking, drugs, homeland security threats, financial, and cyber intelligence. WSIC has joined several public and private sector partners throughout the state and nationwide to further the mission of intelligence sharing. 

 

AMBER Alert

https://amberalert.widoj.gov

Wisconsin's AMBER Alert Program is a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Wisconsin Public Radio, the Dane County Public Safety Communication Center, the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Revenue—Division of Lottery, the Wisconsin EAS Committee, and local law enforcement agencies.

 

An AMBER Alert disseminates information to the public about the abduction of a child as rapidly as possible via the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) and by the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network (WCAN). The broadcast will contain descriptive information about the child and the abduction. Citizens with information can then contact the appropriate law enforcement agency using the telephone number listed in the alert. 

 

Analytical Services

The intelligence analysts assigned to the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center (WSIC) provide specialized criminal investigative support to enhance the efforts of the Division of Criminal Investigation and other law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin as well as across the National Network of Fusion Centers.  Experienced intelligence analysts leverage specialized analytical software to provide case-specific operational and tactical analysis aiding in case development and assisting with criminal prosecutions.

 

Missing & Exploited Children & Adults

http://www.missingpersons.doj.wi.gov

The Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults actively assists law enforcement, victim families, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other missing person organizations in cases involving missing children, human trafficking victims and children who are victims of online enticement. Wisconsin’s Clearinghouse provides technical investigative assistance, referrals and advocacy in navigating the criminal justice system, along with other resources, services and information to victim families of children and adults who are missing and considered endangered in the state of Wisconsin, nationwide and internationally.

 

The Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children and Adults actively assists law enforcement officers, victims and victim families in search, recovery and reunification in cases involving abducted, missing and/or exploited children and adults.

 

The Wisconsin Clearinghouse provides training to law enforcement, social workers, victim advocates, educators, victim service providers and other public and private sector partners statewide. In addition, the Wisconsin Clearinghouse participates in a variety of community events, conferences and training programs to promote awareness about abducted, missing and exploited children, and to provide information about Wisconsin's AMBER Alert program and the resources and services available to Wisconsin citizens through the Wisconsin Clearinghouse.

 

Silver Alert

On August 1, 2014, Wisconsin’s Silver Alert law took effect and is an important step in protecting those with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other permanent cognitive impairment who may go missing. Silver Alerts are disseminated via email, text message, or fax using the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network (WCAN). In partnership with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Outdoor Advertising Association of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue – Division of Lottery, Silver Alerts may be broadcast through television and radio, digital billboards, highway traffic signs, and lottery display terminals. Silver Alerts do not utilize the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA). The Silver Alert legislation requires law enforcement to issue a Silver Alert when the following criteria are met:

 

  1. The missing person is 60 years of age or older.
  2. The missing person is believed to have Alzheimer's, Dementia, or another permanent cognitive impairment which poses a threat to their health and safety.
  3. There is reasonable belief that the missing person’s disappearance is due to their impaired cognitive condition.
  4. The Silver Alert request is made within 72 hours of the individual’s disappearance.
  5. There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person.
  6. The missing person has been entered into NCIC.

Anyone can sign up to receive Silver Alerts at https://wisconsincrimealert.widoj.gov at no cost.

 

 

Technical Services Unit (TSU)

DCI’s Technical Services Unit provides specialized electronic investigative, tactical and surveillance support to federal, state, local, tribal and campus law enforcement partners across the state on a wide range of criminal cases. 

 

TLO/FLO/CLO

The Threat Liaison Officer (TLO), Fusion Liaison Officer (FLO) and Cyber Liaison Officer (CLO) programs are statewide initiatives with local, county, state, federal and tribal law enforcement partners as well as ther public and private sector partners who are provided training on the indicators of suspicious criminal or terrorist activity both in the physical and cyber realms. The TLO, FLO and CLO programs provide for one or more points of contact within partner agencies to act as conduits for information sharing with the WSIC. TLOs, FLOs and CLOs function as the “eyes and ears” of the fusion center in the field and in public and private sector cyber security. The effective and timely analysis of credible threat and cyber information depends heavily on the capabilities of each TLO, FLO or CLO and the support from their parent agencies. Each TLO,FLO, and CLO is trained to recognize and evaluate potential terrorist or cyber activity and the proper actions to take.

 

Wisconsin Crime Alert Network

https://wisconsincrimealert.widoj.gov

 The Wisconsin Crime Alert Network (WCAN) is a statewide program that links law enforcement agencies with the business community and the public in a partnership to fight crime. WCAN is a highly effective program which can help prevent crime and aid in the apprehension of criminals. WCAN allows law enforcement agencies to issue and disseminate crime alert bulletins rapidly to other law enforcement agencies, the business community, and to the general public, whenever a crime or suspect may affect citizens or their businesses. WCAN provides a rapid means of communication between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Alerts are sent via email, SMS text, and fax to those signed up to receive alerts.  Anyone can sign up to receive crime alerts at https://wisconsincrimealert.widoj.gov

 

Child Abduction Response Team (CART)

The Division’s CART Program fills the most critical law enforcement needs in the state-wide response to child abductions. CART is a team of individuals from DCI and Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) who are trained and prepared to respond to a report of a missing, endangered or abducted child. CART leverages resources to aid in the search and rescue efforts and to assist the agency of jurisdiction in its investigation. The role of the CART is to enhance the ongoing investigation with a cooperative approach involving trained DCI law enforcement personnel, resources and technology.

 

Gaming Enforcement

The Division’s gaming enforcement operates in conjunction with state and local law enforcement to investigate allegations of illegal gambling of statewide scope or significance, as well as providing education and resources to municipalities and business groups. The Division routinely works with the Department of Revenue – Division of Lottery, the Department of Administration – Division of Gaming, and local law enforcement agencies to accomplish its mission.

 

Public Records

https://www.doj.state.wi.us/dci/officer-involved-critical-incident

The Bureau of Special Operations also consists of the DCI Public Records Unit, which is a collaborative team that operates in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Office of Open Government (OOG) to respond to public requests for records. The DCI Public Records team works directly with the attorneys of the OOG to provide timely dissemination of records to the public, media, and individual requestors. Their duties also include the review and preparation of all materials received and prepared in the course of Officer Involved Critical Incidents, and the distribution to the public as mandated by Wisconsin Statute §175.47.

 

Justice Programs

Justice Programs is another component of the Special Operations Bureau. The Justice Programs team supports and manages DCI’s daily business as well as the ever-changing operational needs of the DCI administration, criminal and digital analysts, program and policy analysts, and sworn staff. Justice Programs works closely with other agency partners to further the goals and functions of the Division by procuring the training, equipment, and other tools that are vital to the safe and effective application of state-level law enforcement. Examples of this support work include: processing case evidence both from DCI and from outside agencies; tracking, maintaining, and replenishing the essential law enforcement clothing, field equipment, program kits, and tools that special agents need while working at critical incident scenes and in the field; managing and facilitating the maintenance and repair for a fleet of over 100 law enforcement vehicles; and managing the division’s mobile and portable radio systems. Justice Programs manages the planning, procurement, and coordinating of DCI’s many conferences, trainings, and schools provided for law enforcement and criminal justice partners throughout the state.

 

 

Contact Information for the Special Operations Bureau:

 

 

 

 

Vacant

Director of the Special Operations Bureau

(608) 266-1671