The Criminal Investigation Division is responsible for conducting in-depth investigations of criminal cases. It is divided into a Special Investigations Section and a Criminal Investigations Section. The Division Commander oversees the Division’s 34 sworn investigators and 6 civilian support staff.
Special Investigations Section
The Special Investigations Section, sometimes referred to as Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Unit, is comprised of undercover officers who conduct narcotic, prostitution, gambling, money laundering, and counter terrorism investigations, and gather intelligence. Members of the Section work proactively with other local, state and federal agencies and are attached to several multi-agency task forces to include but not limited to the South Florida Money Laundering Strike Force, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Section also provides extensive surveillance capabilities and technical support to other units within the Department.
Criminal Investigations Section
The Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) investigates unsolved crimes, locates and apprehends offenders, investigates juvenile related cases, youth development programs, provides crime scene investigative support, criminal intelligence analysis, and assistance to victims and witnesses. Members of the Section work first-hand with local, state and federal agencies with detectives attached to the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force, the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI South American Theft Group Task Force, the United States Secret Service’s Electronic Crimes Task Force, the U. S. Postal Inspection Service Task Force, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Child Abuse Response Team.
The Criminal Investigations Section is comprised of:
Crimes Against Persons Unit: The Crimes Against Persons Unit (CAP) initiates and conducts follow-up investigations on offenses against people such as robbery, sexual crimes, assaults and domestic crimes. In addition to investigating crimes against persons, the Unit plans for and manages all protection details for visiting dignitaries and government officials. Investigators in this unit are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Victim/Witness Advocate Coordinator is supervised by this Unit.
Victim/Witness Advocate Unit: The Victim Witness Unit Coordinator and two volunteers serve victims of crime in a variety of ways. Assistance includes but is not limited to crisis intervention, telephone consultation and information, needs evaluation, safety planning, community agency referrals, support in criminal justice and the legal support system, assistance in filing injunctions for protection in cases of stalking, dating and domestic violence, emergency financial compensation assistance and/or emergency shelter, and needs of the elderly community. The Unit provides outreach and educational services through media presentations, educational forums, fair exhibits to faith health, and senior communities, as well as universities in an effort to promote awareness of victim’s rights and victimization issues.
Property Crimes Unit: The Property Crimes Unit (PCU) investigates all forms of theft including residential, commercial, vehicle and vessel burglaries, arson, vandalism, and auto theft. The Unit also supervises a state of the art Forensic Video Unit which processes surveillance tapes, film and CD’s for the Department and other agencies.
Economic Crimes Unit: The Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) investigates various financial crimes and all forms of fraud to include forged checks, stolen or counterfeit credit cards, internet fraud, identity theft and in some certain limited cases, mortgage fraud. The Unit is a member of the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force and works closely with the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center.
Youth Resource Unit: The Youth Resource Units (YRU) responsibilities are extremely diversified. The detectives work as School Resource Officers and are assigned to the Senior High and Middle Schools as advisors and assist the Miami-Dade School Board Police. The Unit patrols the local school campuses and surrounding areas with the goal to prevent crime, control delinquency and handle youth related crimes. The investigators are also advisors to the Coral Gables Police Athletic League (PAL) and the Coral Gables Police Explorer Post 594. In addition to these responsibilities, YRU investigates youth related cases which vary from simple criminal mischief to robbery and child abuse. As advisors to Explorer Post 594 the Unit assists in many events throughout the year such as the Junior Orange Bowl Parade, the Junior Orange Bowl Sports Abilities Games, the Coral Gables Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, and the Annual Holiday Toy Drive. The Police Athletic League conducts various camps during the spring and summer breaks and a year-round Youth Directors Program. The camps include marine (ocean related), baseball, soccer, and community service. The camps are provided free of charge to the public and lunch is provided free to participants. At the schools, Unit members assist with Red Ribbon Week activities, conduct Officer Friendly speeches, participate in Career Day and teach DARE classes to approximately 350 local 5th and 6th graders. YRU acts as the Department representatives to the Multi Agency Gang Task Force.
Crime Scene Unit: The Crime Scene Unit (CSU) is composed of a Senior Crime Scene Technician and two Crime Scene Technicians. Sometimes referred to as Crime Scene Investigators (CSI), the Technicians are responsible for gathering, documenting, and analyzing evidence at crime scenes. The Unit has transitioned into digital photography and is one of the very few agencies in the nation which submits DNA evidence from vehicle burglaries. The results have been arrests on vehicle burglary cases dating back to 2004 and 2005.
