BlueReady guide · Reviewed by Marshall, leads blueready in milwaukee and brookfield · Updated October 2026
What to do when you discover a death or crime scene
The first few minutes after you find something no one should have to find, broken into simple steps. Read it now, so you’re not searching for it later.
- Milwaukee crew
- 20 min dispatch
- No money up front
- No middleman
Quick answerIf you discover a death or crime scene, leave the room without touching anything and call 911. Keep others out, and don’t clean or move anything. Police and, for a death, the medical examiner will investigate and then release the home. After that, call a biohazard cleanup crew. BlueReady dispatches within 20 minutes at 414-961-2034.
Step by step
The first ten minutes
Stop and step back
Don’t go further in. Back out the way you came and close the door if you can.
Call 911
Tell the dispatcher what you found and the address. Stay on the line and follow their directions, including first aid if they ask.
Keep everyone out
Wait outside or in another room. Keep children and pets away. Don’t let neighbors or relatives walk in.
Answer their questions
Tell them what you touched and when. Ask for the officer’s name and a case number. You’ll want both later.
Call for cleanup
Police and the medical examiner don’t clean. Call us before you go back into the room.
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Found something just now?
If cleanup is what you need next, call and we’ll explain everything. 20 minute dispatch, no money up front.
- On call day or night, answered by our own crew
- 20 minute dispatch, ready to clean on arrival
- No money up front, ever. We bill insurance directly
Every situation is different
What to do, by situation
A loved one has died at home
Call 911 unless they were in hospice. Don't move them. Close the door, keep pets away, and wait for police and the medical examiner.
You walk into a crime scene
Back out the way you came, touching nothing, and call 911 from outside. Even straightening up can disturb evidence.
There's an odor and no answer
Don't force a door. Call Milwaukee Police non-emergency at (414) 933-4444, or 911 if you think someone needs help, and ask for a welfare check.
Blood after a fall or injury
Get the person care first. With no crime involved, you don't need police for the cleanup. Cover the area and call us.
Someone has died by suicide
Call 911, then call or text 988 for yourself. Let a friend make the other calls. We'll handle the room.
A tenant or employee
Call 911, secure the unit or area, and don't let anyone remove belongings. Then call the next of kin or estate contact.
Please don’t
Five things that make it harder
- Don't clean, scrub or bleach anything before police release the home.
- Don't open windows or run fans in the room. It spreads odor and contamination.
- Don't throw away bedding, carpet or furniture. Your insurer may need to see it.
- Don't let kids or pets back into the room.
- Don't pay anyone who demands money before they'll come out. We never do.
Numbers to have
| Emergency | 911 |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Police non-emergency | (414) 933-4444 |
| Crisis line, Milwaukee County | (414) 257-7222, 24 hours |
| Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Call or text 988 |
| BlueReady, 24/7 | 414-961-2034 |
Professional recommendations
Tips from our techs
Practical advice from the people who do this work every week.
Save 414-961-2034 today
Put it in your phone next to 911. Nobody plans for this.
Note the time
Police will ask when you arrived and what you touched. Jot it down while it’s fresh.
Photograph from the doorway only
If your insurer may need it, a photo from the door is fine. Don’t walk in to take it.
Find a place to sit
Shock is real. Sit down outside or in the car and let help come to you.
Call one person
Call one friend or relative to come be with you. Let them make the rest of the calls.
Ask for the case number
You’ll need it for insurance and victim compensation.
Helpful links
Trusted outside resources
Official agencies and organizations we point families to. We have no paid relationship with any of them.
city.milwaukee.gov/police · non-emergency (414) 933-4444
933 W. Highland Ave., Milwaukee · county.milwaukee.gov
FAQ
Questions families ask us
Still have a question? Call 414-961-2034 any time. You’ll talk to someone on our Milwaukee crew.
You can legally, but we don’t recommend it. Blood and bodily fluids can carry bloodborne pathogens, they soak deeper than you can see, and Wisconsin regulates how that waste is thrown away.
It depends on the case. An unattended death is often a few hours. A homicide can take a day or more. Ask the lead officer, and call us whenever you’re ready.
Not the police, the medical examiner or the funeral home. Once your loved one is removed and the home is released, cleanup falls to the family or property owner. A trained biohazard crew like ours handles it so you don’t have to.
Keep reading
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