165.70 Investigation of statewide crime.

(1) The department of justice shall do all of the following:

(a) Investigate crime that is statewide in nature, importance or influence.

(b) Except as provided in sub. (1m), enforce chs. 945 and 961 and ss. 940.20 (3), 940.201, 941.25, 941.26, 943.01 (2) (c), 943.011, 943.27, 943.28, 943.30, 944.30 (1m), 944.31, 944.32, 944.33, 944.34, 946.65, 947.02 (3) and (4), 948.075, 948.08, and 948.081.

(d) Enforce and administer s. 165.55.

(e) Investigate violations of ch. 563 that are statewide in nature, importance or influence.

(1m) The department may not investigate violations of or otherwise enforce s. 945.03 (2m) or 945.04 (2m).

(2) The attorney general shall appoint, under the classified service, investigative personnel to achieve the purposes set out in sub. (1) who shall have the powers of a peace officer. As many as are deemed necessary of the investigators so appointed shall be trained in drugs and narcotics law enforcement, or shall receive such training within one year of their appointment, and they shall assist, when appropriate, local law enforcement agencies to help them meet their responsibilities in this area.

(3) It is the intention of this section to give the attorney general responsibility for devising programs to control crime statewide in nature, importance or influence, drugs and narcotics abuse, commercial gambling other than what is described in s. 945.03 (2m) or 945.04 (2m), prostitution, and arson. Nothing herein shall deprive or relieve local peace officers of the power and duty to enforce those provisions enumerated in sub. (1).

(4) District attorneys, sheriffs and chiefs of police shall cooperate and assist the personnel of the department in the performance of their duties.

History: 1971 c. 40, 211, 307; 1973 c. 156; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 173 s. 168; 1977 c. 215, 260; 1977 c. 272 s. 98; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 332; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 269; 1993 a. 213; 1995 a. 448; 1997 a. 27, 143; 1999 a. 83; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 362; 2015 a. 197; 2017 a. 128.