The
Ames Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division (C.I.D.)
was originally instituted to pursue investigations that the Patrol
Division initiated, but did not have the time or specialized
training to follow all the way through with. Currently, the Criminal
Investigation Division consists of three separate units. They are
the General Investigation unit, the Financial
Crimes unit and
Juvenile
unit.
The three investigators assigned to the General Investigation unit
perform a variety of tasks. Besides normal follow-up investigations
that were originally initiated by Patrol officers, these
investigators will develop their own cases from citizen complaints,
assist the Department of Human Services with investigations, and
handle interviews and investigations for the City and County
prosecutors. One of the investigators is assigned to narcotics
investigations and is a member of the Central Iowa Drug Task Force.
These duties are preempted in the event of a major case
investigation, such as a homicide, or the case load of the other
investigators is getting too great. A second investigator has had
extensive training at both the state and national levels on
fingerprint identification. He also specializes in interfamily
sexual abuse cases and has received extensive training in this
area. The third general investigator has developed an expertise in
domestic abuse investigations. The goal of this program is to decrease the number of domestic abuse situations
through enforcement actions and education. We are also developing a
closer working relationship with the County's Victim/Witness
Coordinator and with ACCESS. This initiative should assist abuse
victims.
All investigators are trained in crime scene investigation and take turns being on call overnight and on weekends. Their immediate supervisor, the C.I.D. Sergeant, oversees the daily operations and reports to the Commander of Investigations and Special Operations.
If you have any comments or questions, call us at (515) 239-5130 or send us e-mail at:
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