Frequently Asked Questions / How To's
Page updated 05/14/09
- Communications / 911 Related Questions
- Crime Prevention Questions
- Evidence Questions
- General/Miscellaneous
- Internal Affairs / Officer Conduct
- Records and Paperwork Requests
- When should I call 911?
- What should I do if I see a crime occurring?
- Do I have to give my name when calling 911?
- What type of information do I have to have ready to give the calltaker when I call 911?
- I think I have a warrant for my arrest. How do I find out for sure?
- How can I clear a warrant?
- Do arrest or bench warrants expire?
- How do I find out if there is a Neighborhood Watch in my area?
- OK, so there’s no Neighborhood Watch. How do I start one?
- What can I do to reduce my chances of being a victim of crime?
- What kind of volunteer opportunities do you have?
- How do I get my belongings back after they have been placed in evidence?
- My items were taken to be processed by Photo/ID for fingerprints. When can I get my belongings back?
- What should I do if I lost or found an item?
- I think I left an item at Lambeau Field during a Packer game. Does the Green Bay Police Department have it and how do I get it back?
- What are the laws about scalping Packer tickets?
- How can I find out if someone is in jail? / When can I visit someone in jail?
- Can I ride my skateboard or rollerblades on the streets?
- How do I obtain a license for my cat or dog?
- Do I need a permit to park on the street overnight?
- Will the police open my vehicle if I locked my keys inside?
- I'm going on vacation, will the police watch my house?
- How do I get a copy of an accident report? How long does it take, and how much does it cost?
- How do I get a copy of an incident report? How long does it take, and how much does it cost?
- What is the difference between a "record request" and a "record check"?
Answers to your Common Questions
Communications
When should I call 911?
911
should be used for any emergency in progress that you witness or are
involved in. This includes traffic accidents, fights, disturbances of
any kind, thefts, disabled vehicles, or anything of an "emergency"
nature. 911 should not be used to report cars that have been
abandoned for long periods of time, dogs barking, or other items that
can be handled by a non-emergency phone call (920-448-3200). The
regular phone calls are answered as fast as the 911 calls, so you can
feel assured calling either number.
What should I do if I see a crime occurring?
If
you see a crime in progress, dial 911 and be prepared to stay on the
line to relay information and developments to the calltaker. This will
allow the calltaker to tell the responding police officers if anything
changes regarding weapons, what type of clothing the suspects are
wearing, in what direction suspects are fleeing, and what kind of
vehicle they are in (color, make, license plate number and state,etc).
Do I have to give my name when calling 911?
You
do not have to give your name, but many times we need a witness to
identify the suspect. We also may need to phone you back if more
information is required. You can request to remain anonymous and you
will remain that way. Please remember that we need your help. It is
your community, and we need your help to keep it safe.
What type of information do I have to have ready to give the calltaker when I call 911?
When you call 911, we ask for the basics:
-
Where/when did this happen
-
How many people are involved
-
Is anyone injured
-
Are the injuries life-threatening
-
Who is involved
-
Can you see what is happening right now
I think I have a warrant for my arrest. How do I find out for sure?
If
you believe you have a warrant, you can call any police agency and ask
them to run your name to see if you have a warrant. They will need the
proper information - name and date of birth.
How can I clear a warrant?
To
clear a warrant, you have to pay the fine, see the judge, or serve your
sentence. Usually most judges will give you time to pay before they
issue a bench warrant for your body. They are interested in seeing
people working and paying off their fines, rather than filling up
overcrowded jails.
Do arrest or bench warrants expire?
Warrants
do not go away. They do not expire. To clear a warrant, you must either
pay the fine, see the judge, or serve your sentence. In short, the
warrant will be on file forever unless cleared.
Crime Prevention
How do I find out if there is a Neighborhood Watch in my area?
To find out if there is a Neighborhood Watch in your area, call GBPD Crime Prevention @ 448-3260 or 448-3171.
OK, so there’s no Neighborhood Watch. How do I start one?
To
start a Neighborhood Watch in your area, call Crime Prevention and you
will be sent a packet of information explaining the procedure. Crime
Prevention personnel will be available to assist you through the
process of starting a Watch, as well as offer continued support in
maintaining your watch.
What can I do to reduce my chances of being a victim of crime?
To
reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime, become educated in
prevention practices. The Crime Prevention department has an abundant
supply of brochures, booklets, and even educational videos that may be
checked out by individuals and groups. Crime Prevention personnel are
also available for group presentations.
What kind of volunteer opportunities do you have?
Volunteer
opportunities exist in a variety of prevention programs and activities,
and range from assisting with the mailing of newsletters, to helping
out with the annual Neighborhood Watch Fun Fest. For additional
volunteer opportunities, call 448-3260 or 448-3171.
Evidence
How do I get my belongings back after they have been placed in evidence?
Items
cannot be returned without 1) a written order and 2) an appointment
with the evidence department for pickup of the property.
We can not release any items from evidence without a written notice of disposal from either the court in which you have appeared or from the investigating officer. Upon receiving a written disposal to return property, a letter is sent to the property owner with instructions to contact the Green Bay Police Department to set up an appointment for pick up of the property. To make an appointment, please call 448-3165, between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday.
A date by which the items must be picked up is clearly marked on the bottom of each letter. If the owner has not made contact with the department by that date, we are allowed by state law to dispose of the items per our department policy.
My items were taken to be processed by Photo/ID for fingerprints. When can I get my belongings back?
Items
brought into the department for fingerprinting will be released after
the item has been processed and the investigating officer has given
approval for release.
If positive results are found on an evidentiary item, it will most likely be held for court purposes. Remaining items that have negative results may be returned depending on if the item still needs to be held for court. The return process is the same as regular evidence, as stated above. A letter is sent to the owner advising that the property can be picked up, and an appointment must then be made with evidence to do so.
What should I do if I lost or found an item?
For lost items, please call Lost & Found at 920-448-3172 between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday. If you receive a voice mail recording, please leave a brief description of the item, your name, and a number at which you can be reached. We will contact you if the item has been turned in to our department. If you need a police report for an insurance claim on a lost item, please call the Green Bay Police Department's non-emergency phone number, 920-448-3200, to report your lost item.
If we do not have the item you lost, we also suggest that you place an ad in one or both of the local newspapers, in their Lost and Found section. Many times people do not turn found items in to the department but place an ad, hoping to find the owner that way. Many people also place a found ad, so you may want to check the papers for that also.
Found items may be turned in to the Green Bay Police Department, 307 S. Adams St., Green Bay. You may also call the non-emergency number, 920-448-3200, and if our patrol officers are not busy, someone may be dispatched to pick the item up, at the discretion of the shift commander.
The owner has 30 days to claim his/her property. After that, the finder may claim the item. If the finder wants the unclaimed property, he/she has five business days after the 30 day holding period to do so. The finder should call 920-448-3165 or 920-448-3172 to do so. This information and a dated receipt are given to the finder by the employee accepting the property at the time the property is turned in as lost.
All weapons are handled as evidence and will not be returned to the finder.
When an item is lost at Lambeau Field during a game, the officers bring it to the Green Bay Police Department. Please see the procedures above for claiming a lost item. If you live outside of the city and cannot make arrangements to pick up the item, we will mail it to you and ask that you reimburse the police department for the postage and handling costs.
General/Miscellaneous
What are the laws about scalping Packer tickets?
Green
Bay City Ordinance 27.22 states, "No person shall purchase or sell any
ticket or other evidence of the right of entry to any athletic contest
or exhibition, amusement, game, concert, or performance in the City for
an amount greater than the price printed upon the face of such ticket
or other evidence or the right of entry."
How can I find out if someone is in jail? / When can I visit someone in jail?
The
Green Bay Police Department does not have a jail. Please contact the
Brown County Sheriff's Department (920-448-4200) and they can tell you
who is in jail and what times they are allowed to have visitors.
Can I ride my skateboard or rollerblades on the streets?
State law 346.78 states, "No person riding upon any play vehicle may
attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway or
go upon any roadway except while crossing a roadway at a crosswalk."
Skateboards are considered play toys and are not allowed by this state
law. Rollerblades are allowed in the streets, but the skater must
follow this state law and ride in a careful and prudent manner and with
due regard under the circumstances for the safety of all persons using
the roadway.
How do I obtain a license for my cat or dog?
You can obtain a license for your cat or dog from the Green Bay Police
Department's Humane Officer, any Green Bay Fire Station, the City Hall
Clerk's Office, or at the Humane Society. City ordinance requires that
any dog or cat over the age of five months be licensed annually by the
City of Green Bay.
Do I need a permit to park on the street overnight?
Yes, you need a permit from the Police Department to park your vehicle
overnight on city streets between the hours of 3:00 am and 5:00 am. The
reason that overnight parking is only granted by permit is that the
city's street maintenance crews sweep and plow the streets during this
time.
Will the police open my vehicle if I locked my keys inside?
Private businesses are available in Green Bay to unlock vehicles. The
Police Department does not open locked vehicles for people, with the
exception of situations in which the safety of a child or animal is in
jeopardy.
I'm going on vacation, will the police watch my house?
Yes, the Green Bay Police will check homes while people are on
vacation. Before leaving, you need to stop in at the Green Bay Police
Department and fill out a house check form available at the front desk.
Internal Affairs
How do I make a comment about a police officer’s conduct?
Compliments:
Compliments about an officer’s conduct can either be sent in letter
form to the Chief of the Green Bay Police Department, or can be made
over the phone by calling 448-3238 or 448-3186.
Complaints:
If the complaint is about how the officer handled the incident
procedurally or about the behavior of the officer, the citizen should
first register that complaint with the shift commander, preferably on
the shift the incident occurred. Please call 448-3205 to speak with the
shift commander. If the citizen has a complaint that involves a
violation of the law or is very serious in nature, please contact
Internal Affairs at either 448-3238 or 448-3186. If in doubt, please
contact use either phone number, and you will be put in touch with the
right office.
Records
How do I get a copy of an accident report? How long does it take, and how much does it cost?
Obtaining
an accident report can be done in a variety of ways. The first is to
either send in the blue envelope supplied at the time of the accident
or send a written request to:
Green Bay Police Department
Attn: Records
307 S. Adams St.
Green Bay, WI 54301
An accident report can also be requested by calling 448-3198 and leaving a message on the voice mail. Finally, an accident request form can be filled out in the lobby of the department. All accidents are different, but the average time is about 10 days to receive a report. The usual cost is $2.00 through the mail, or $.25 per page (usually 4 pages) if picked up in person. When picking up the report, please call ahead (448-3329) to make sure the accident report is ready.
How do I get a copy of an incident report? How long does it take, and how much does it cost?
Obtaining
an incident report can be done in one of three ways. An incident report
can also be requested by calling 448-3198 and leaving a message on the
voice mail. Finally, an incident report can be requested in person at
the Green Bay Police Department. An employee will take the necessary
information and assist you.
All requests involving juveniles must be made in writing. A request form for juvenile information is available in the lobby of the Green Bay Police Department. Information to include in the request is date of incident, case number (if known), nature of incident, location of incident, party involved with date of birth (if known), relationship to juvenile, reason for requesting information, your name, your address, and your phone number. You can include any other information you think will be helpful in filling your request. Please sign and date the written request.
The cost is $.25 per page. The approximate time to receive an incident report is 10 days after requesting the report. Most incident reports must be reviewed before they can be released.
What is the difference between a "record request" and a "record check"?
A
"record request" is a request for any police records – accidents,
incidents, and even a "record check." A "record check" is a request for
a check of an individual’s adult arrest records. This could include
traffic, criminal, or both.
It should be noted that both a "record request" and a "record check" are only a check of the records from the Green Bay Police Department. This does not include any other agency’s (Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Ashwaubenon Public Safety, etc.) records or information.
