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The Criminal Investigations Division is a Support unit to Uniformed Services. The function of CID is to review and investigate reports of felony and misdemeanor criminal acts, identify suspects, both adult and juvenile, and prepare cases for prosecution with the DA's office. Investigative work is re-active from reports with the identification, arrest and prosecution of suspects. It is also pro-active through the prevention of criminal acts in their identification of suspects. The Division is made up of the following squads: Homicide/Robbery, Burglary/Theft/Pawn Shops, Auto theft, Financial Crimes, Juvenile/Special Victims, Criminal Intelligence, Narcotics, Scientific Investigations Unit (SIU), and District Court Liaison. The Polygraph and Bomb Squad are under the control of CID.

How Is A Case Assigned?
All criminal reports made to the Topeka Police Department are sent to the Criminal Investigations Unit for review. These reports are distributed to the appropriate investigative unit that handles that type of crime. The unit sergeant will review all the facts of the case and based on the information contained in the report, that would lead detectives toward the identity of the suspect.

Some of the factors used to decide an assignment are clear descriptions that will identify the perpetrator, license tag information, direct knowledge of who committed the crime, physical evidence that can identify the suspect, or witnesses who are able to identify the suspect. There may be other factors that will also be used to determine assignment. Citizens who are victims of crimes should contact the Criminal Investigations Division should additional information become available that was not given to the officer at the time of the report. This would also assist in the determination of assignment.

There are also occasions a report will contain all the necessary information that clearly establishes a crime and identity of the perpetrator. Those cases are then reviewed to ensure completeness and then are forwarded directly to the District Attorney's office or the City Attorney's office with a request for prosecution. An attorney from either prosecutors office will review the case and should all necessary legal requirements be met, will file the case with the courts for prosecution.

When a case is assigned for investigation, the assigned detective will contact the victim of the case within 48 hours of receiving the assignment. During the course of the investigation, the detective will contact the victim and update them on the progress of the case. When a final conclusion is reached the detective will contact the victim and advise them the case was completed and the final disposition. In those instances where no information was developed for prosecution, the case will be considered inactive. Should new information be developed, the case can be reopened for additional investigation.

To inquire on the status of any case, the victim can call the Criminal Investigations Division at 368-9400.

Burglary/Theft/Pawn/Auto Theft Unit
This unit is comprised of a sergeant and eight detectives. The unit is charged with investigations involving the burglaries to businesses, residences and vehicles. They also investigate thefts of property and cases involving criminal damage to property, both felony and misdemeanor. Cases are assigned for investigation to detectives that follow the assignment criteria.

The Auto Theft unit has two assigned detectives that handle the reports of stolen vehicles and the recovery process of vehicles. They will investigate the theft of the vehicle and should the vehicle be recovered, will handle the release procedures.

One detective in this unit is assigned to the Pawn Shop Detail. He works closely with the area pawn shops in recovering any reported stolen property that may have been pawned.

This unit and any detective assigned to it may be contacted by calling the Criminal Investigations Division at 368-9400.

Financial Crimes Unit
This unit is comprised of a sergeant and four detectives. The Financial Crimes unit investigates cases involving checks that have been reported stolen and are later passed in area businesses. They also handle cases involving the unlawful use of a reported stolen credit card. This unit is staffed with four detectives.

The unit also has one detective assigned who is the department's handwriting analyst. He assists on these types of investigations by examining known handwriting samples of suspects believed to have passed forged documents and prepares reports for court presentation.

This unit and any detective assigned may be contacted by calling the Criminal Investigations Division at 368-9400.

Narcotics Unit
This unit is comprised of one sergeant, one corporal and nine officers who work narcotics law violations. They pursue investigations on known drug offenders and follow up on any reported drug activity received from the community. Four of these officers also are used to handle and track gang activity when encountered.

Two of the officers assigned to this unit are members of the FBI Violent Crimes Strike Force. This group is comprised of officers from local jurisdictions that work under the control of the FBI to combat drug and violent crimes from known repeat offenders. The purpose of this unit is to send repeat violent and drug offenders to the Federal judicial system to enhance mandatory prison terms if convicted.

To report any drug activity you may call the Criminal Investigations Division at 368-9400 or directly to the Narcotics unit at 368-9030 or 368-9418.

The Criminal Intelligence unit is also a part of the Narcotics unit and is staffed by two detectives. Their job is to collate all intelligence information that comes into the police department and ensure it is distributed to the correct investigative unit. They keep all officers of the department apprised of crime trends and possible offenders.

Homicide/Robbery
The Homicide/Robbery unit consists of one sergeant and seven detectives. This unit is responsible for working cases including homicides, robberies, shootings, stabbings, drive-by shootings, assault and battery, suicides and suspicious deaths. The sergeant of the unit reviews the cases for assignment. Some cases are assigned to detectives for follow up and others may be sent to the District or City Attorney for charges. A few cases that have little chance of being solved will not be assigned for follow up unless new information or leads are developed. The members of the Homicide/Robbery unit can be reached at 368-9400.

Juvenile/Special Victims
The Juvenile/Special Victims unit consists of one sergeant and six detectives. This unit is responsible for working cases of all types where juveniles (people under the age of 18) are the suspect(s) in the case. The unit investigates all missing persons cases. The unit is responsible for working all sexual assaults committed by adult suspect(s) and all child abuse cases. All sexual assault and child abuse cases are assigned to a detective for follow up. Members of this unit work closely with several agencies, including SRS and Battered Women's Task Force, that are supportive to victims of these cases.The sergeant of the unit reviews cases for assignment. Some cases are assigned to a detective for follow up and others may be sent to the District or City Attorney for charges. Because the unit deals with juveniles, SRS will receive referrals on those cases that fall under that agencies? jurisdiction. A few cases will not be assigned for follow up unless new information or leads are developed. The members of the unit can be reached at 368-9400.

Scientific Investigation Unit
This unit consists of three sergeants and nine officers. The unit is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SIU collects and preserves evidence collected at crime scenes. Three members of the unit are latent fingerprint examiners. The members of SIU can be reached at 368-9467.