Chesterfield Police 2005 Annual Report

Investigations Bureau

The Investigations Bureau incorporates both the Criminal Investigations and Special Investigations divisions. The CID investigates major crimes against persons, property and juveniles. The SID investigates organized criminal activity that involves activities such as drug trafficking, gambling and vice offenses. The division also provides surveillance, intelligence gathering and technical-equipment operations for the police department. The division also houses the Forensic Unit, which is tasked with collecting, processing and presenting evidence from crime scenes.

The Office of Terrorism, Intelligence, and Emergency Preparedness is staffed with a lieutenant and two detectives who manage the department’s response to homeland security issues. Unit members work closely with state and federals agencies.

The Crimes Against Persons Unit consists of three sections: the General Persons Crimes Section, Crimes Against Juveniles/Domestic Violence Section and the Major Case Section. These sections investigate deaths, robberies, rapes, aggravated assaults, child abuse and exploitation of children, as well as cases of missing persons, juvenile runaways, threatening and obscene telephone calls, extortion, suicides and various firearm violations. Crimes of a violent or sexual nature generally fall within the Crimes Against Persons Unit’s area of responsibility. The department’s domestic violence coordinator is assigned to the unit. Four men were arrested in early 2005 within weeks following a large-scale gun-store robbery. Detectives investigated and successfully cleared all eight homicide cases.

The Crimes Against Property Unit is divided into three main sections. The General Property Crimes Section is responsible for the investigation of burglary, grand larceny, large-loss vandalism, arson, explosives cases and environmental crimes. The Economic Crime Section investigates fraud, embezzlement identity theft and computer-related crimes. The Auto Section is divided into two subsections, Auto Theft and Larceny from Auto. Auto theft detectives are responsible for the investigation of motor-vehicle thefts. Larceny from Auto detectives target criminals who steal items from vehicles. The Crimes Against Property Unit also is responsible for staffing, scheduling and supervising the department’s polygraph examiners. The unit investigated more than 2,500 cases in 2005.

The Anti-Crime Unit is responsible for technical and electronic surveillance operations for the department. The unit works closely with the Criminal Investigations Division on all major investigations to provide support in the area of locating and surveilling suspects and witnesses. The unit also identifies and targets career and serial criminals who operate within Chesterfield County. Unit members helped identify and arrest several people who were part of a major DVD counterfeit ring.

The Vice and Narcotics Unit is responsible for the investigation of offenses including prostitution, sexual solicitation, pornography and gambling. The unit also targets and investigates mid- to upper-level drug traffickers and organizations. Members of this unit also are responsible for identifying and seizing assets of criminals obtained directly or indirectly through illegal activity, such as drug trafficking. Unit members conducted an investigation that resulted in the arrest of three suspects involved in a major cocaine distribution organization in the Richmond metropolitan area.

 The Fugitive Section operates under the command of the Special Investigations Division and is supervised by the division commander.  The section is charged with the apprehension of wanted persons and the reduction of unserved criminal warrants.  Section detectives also are responsible for the extradition of persons wanted in Chesterfield who are located and held in other states.  Two detectives currently man the section. Detectives arrested 573 fugitives and cleared 988 arrest warrants.

The Forensic Unit collects, processes and analyzes evidence.  Its sworn and civilian personnel also maintain automated fingerprint files, present courtroom presentations and provide in-house training. Two forensic technicians received certificates of merit from the U.S Attorney’s Office for their work on a case.

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