MCAT a powerful investigative tool

The investigation of the July 22, 2010, murder of Jean Louis Wattecamps in his far south side Mount Prospect apartment by the Major Case Assistance Team and Mount Prospect Investigative Section underscores the effectiveness and public value created by the Major Case Assistance Team.

The Major Case Assistance Team is a multijurisdictional organization that provides investigative and forensic assistance to member agencies during investigations of homicides, kidnappings and other major crimes. MCAT is presently comprised of 22 police agencies from the Northwest suburbs. The team itself is comprised of seasoned investigators from various departments.

When MCAT is activated by a member agency, investigators and forensic technicians respond to the requesting police agency and work in tandem with the host agency's detectives. MCAT investigators can be required to perform any task in the investigative process - canvassing neighborhoods, interviewing witnesses and suspects, providing technical support and conducting forensic duties including the collection of evidence.

Following the investigation, detectives return to their own departments.

The benefits to the member communities from MCAT include providing seasoned investigators to major case investigations and lessening the cost of a major investigation to any one department by spreading the responsibility for investigating qualifying crimes among every member agency.

MCAT is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: Arlington Heights; Barrington Hills; Barrington; Inverness; Bartlett; Cook County Sheriff; Des Plaines; Elk Grove Village; Hanover Park; Harwood Heights; Hoffman Estates; Illinois State Police; Mount Prospect; Norridge; Palatine; Park Ridge; Prospect Heights; Rolling Meadows; Rosemont; Schaumburg; South Barrington and Streamwood.

Using the newly completed Village of Mount Prospect Emergency Operations Center as their base of operations, dozens of Mount Prospect and MCAT detectives and MCAT forensic technicians worked around the clock processing the homicide scene, canvassing nearby apartments and businesses and following up on leads and other pertinent information gained during the course of their investigation.

The diligence and commitment to community exhibited by MCAT and Mount Prospect Police Department Investigators and Forensic Technicians was exceptional. Their collaborative efforts resulted in the arrests of two suspects in connection with the murder of Mr. Wattecamps and the lodging of 1st degree murder charges against both suspects by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office within five days of the homicide.

On behalf of a grateful community, I wish to formally express my sincere appreciation for the efforts of the many dedicated law enforcement professionals who comprised the Major Case Assistance Team for their invaluable assistance to the Mount Prospect Police Department during the course of the investigation of Mr. Wattecamps' murder and subsequent arrests of two individuals responsible for same.

John K. Dahlberg

Chief of Police

Mount Prospect