The growing body of research on police investigations shows that detectives, their work, and the organization and supervision of that work are important to solving cases. However, despite glamorous portrayals of detectives in television and media, this idea was not always—and still is not—the prevailing view.1 Instead, beliefs that elements of a crime—i.e., “solvability factors” such as whether a suspect was identified or physical evidence was found—or the initial patrol officer’s response to secure the scene are often seen as more central to case clearance.2 So strong are these beliefs that police agencies continue to practice investigative triaging based on them today.3
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