General Duties:

  • Keep the unit commander informed of all matters coming to their knowledge relating to the interest of the department. Investigative unit personnel must use their best efforts in the prevention and suppression of crime, and in the detection and apprehension of criminals.

  • Give diligent, efficient, and prompt attention to the investigation of crimes assigned to them and utilize all agencies at hand and elsewhere for the clearance of crimes by the arrest of the offender and the recovery of stolen property. Investigative unit personnel are responsible for proper and complete preparation of assigned cases for court.

  • Familiarize themselves with criminals, their practices, haunts, associates, and acquaint themselves with the various modus operandi used by criminals in the commission of their crimes.

  • Conform strictly to the rules and regulations and procedures of the department.

  • Perform and complete all duties as assigned to them by their commander.

  • Cooperate with all other department personnel, units and divisions, along with all other agencies within the guidelines of the department.

  • Keep the assigned unit commander informed on the progress of their investigations. Investigative unit personnel shall report the need for further guidance when further progress seems impossible.

  • When a case has been assigned to an investigator, they shall interview the complainant, and consult with the complainant from time to time regarding the progress of the case, until it has been closed.

  • Investigators shall submit a written report of their action on each case on which they have performed any work. 

  • Report to their commander at the beginning of the tour and as required during their tour of duty.

  • Investigative unit personnel have a duty of investigators to render assistance, to other members of the department, but they shall not interfere with or work independently upon any case, unless by the direction of their commander.

  • After a suspect is arrested in a case, the investigator is responsible for preparing the case for prosecution. They shall submit a summary of all facts relating to the crime and the arrest. There shall be included a brief resume of the testimony to be offered by each person who should be subpoenaed.

  • An investigator will be responsible for maintaining a “working file” on each case assigned to her/him. This file will contain copies of all reports, statements, lab examination results, or any other information pertaining to that case. The unit head or a designee shall have accessibility to these working files. When the case is closed or pended the entire working file will be sent to the records unit. The records unit will then be responsible for these files until such time as the case may be reopened, microfilmed, and/or purged.

  • When an investigator develops evidence in the furtherance of their investigations, that evidence must be submitted to the property room via the Evidence Manager.

  • Investigators will ensure that police department data is submitted to the records unit for processing, scanning, and storage.

  • Investigators will not store evidence in their home units or at their desks.Evidence must be submitted to the property room as soon as practicable or returned to the custody of the property room when analysis is complete.

  • Investigators will communicate with the district roll calls in their respective areas of responsibility regularly, to exchange criminal intelligence information, crime statistics, crime trends and other relevant information.

  • Investigators will prepare and issue pickup for suspects and provide officer safety information for other units, officers, and agencies when necessary to assist the investigator with their case.

  • Investigators shall coordinate efforts with other investigative units to avoid conflict.

    Updated February 1, 2019

Last Edited: March 4, 2019