26-057 Realtime Investigations Center (RTIC) Field Response
Department Notice
This document is not an official representation of the published policy. To access the official signed policy, please submit a request through our Public Records Request Portal.
The purpose of this notice is to clarify when RTIC investigators may respond to the field. RTIC is staffed 24/7. RTIC will provide investigative and drone-as-first responder (DFR) support, in continuance of its prior standard operating procedures and expansion in duties. RTIC investigators will not respond to homicides or officer-involved shootings unless directed to by the Investigations Bureau chain of command. Field response to incidents must take into consideration the need to maintain an operable resource. If field response would render RTIC incapable of its citywide duties, an RTIC Lieutenant should be consulted prior to any response.
RTIC field response to incidents shall happen in the following cases:
- All serious felony crimes that are believed to be part of an emerging series and/or those with major loss (robberies, burglaries, etc.).
- Any serious felony crime wherein the immediate response of an investigator would be of significant value to the investigation regardless of another investigative detail taking over the case thereafter (kidnappings, multi-casualty crimes, incidents with multiple crime scenes, etc.).
- Critical incidents that require the issuance of a search and/or arrest warrant not being handled by another unit, or if their response is unreasonably delayed.
- Whenever ordered by the Field Operations Bureau Captain or an RTIC superior officer
- High profile/media interest incidents deemed to require response by the assigning officer or OIC.
Varying degrees of investigative overlap, collaboration and support are expected. For any conflicts or confusion in responsibilities, Investigations Bureau lieutenants shall communicate and establish a response plan.
/s/
DERRICK J. LEW
Chief of Police