How the Detective Bureau is Organized

Four Detective Boroughs - Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens - oversees 73 precinct squads. Local squad detectives work closely with patrol officers in their precincts to provide an immediate investigative response to crimes and incidents. (Patrol Borough Staten Island supervises its own Detective Operations, which oversees detective squads in each of that borough's three police precincts).

Specialized borough squads - homicide, robbery and special victims - bolster the efforts of local squads, especially by identifying and investigating pattern crimes. The Detective Bureau also staffs Robbery Apprehension Modules, known as RAMs, in each precinct; these units are charged with further reducing crimes of forcible theft.

Five specialized Detective Bureau divisions provide investigators in the field with a vast and diverse array of technical expertise. There is an unlimited combination of specialized units that will assist in any homicide or other major investigation.

Four Detective Borough Commands

·         Detective Borough Brooklyn

·         Detective Borough Bronx

·         Detective Borough Manhattan

·         Detective Borough Queens

Detective Bureau Divisions:

Central Investigation and Resource Division

     HOMICIDE ANALYSIS UNIT

·         Produces statistical analysis on homicides.

                 PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT

·         Takes mug shots and maintains criminal photo files.

                 HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TEAM

·         Responds to hostage/barricaded situations.

·         Trains Detective Bureau personnel in negotiation techniques to bring about peaceful surrender.

·         Coordinates activities of bureau's criminal profiler.

                 SPECIAL VICTIMS LIAISON UNIT

·         Specially trained female detectives answer Sex Crimes Report Hotline, 24 hours, seven days a week.

·         Arranges sexual assault awareness and prevention lectures. For information on how to safeguard yourself against sexual assaults.

                 SEX OFFENDERS MONITORING UNIT

·         Collects, exchanges, disseminates and monitors information on sex offenders pursuant to the state Sex Offender Registration Act.

                 CRIME STOPPERS

·         Assists detectives in solving violent felony crimes by publicizing and answering the,
1- 800 577-TIPS Hotline.

·         Spanish speakers may call,
1- 888 57-PISTA.

·         All callers remain anonymous.

·         Department liaison for COP SHOT, a privately funded program that pays $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone for shooting or attempting to shoot a New York City police officer. Call 1 800 COPSHOT.

       TRAINING UNIT

·         Provides Department mandated in-service training, as well as orientation and specialized training for Detective Bureau personnel.

Forensic Investigation Division

BOMB SQUAD

·         Responds to scenes of suspected explosive devices, hazardous chemicals and fireworks seized in New York City.

POLICE LABORATORY

·         Scientifically examines physical evidence to assist in investigations and prosecutions.

·         Provides expert court testimony.

             BALLISTICS UNIT

·         Scientifically examines firearms and ballistics evidence to assist in investigations and prosecutions.

·         Verifies operability of firearms.

·         Provides expert court testimony.

                 CRIME SCENE UNIT

·         Collects and analyzes evidence obtained at crime scenes.

·         Provides expert court testimony.

            LATENT PRINT UNIT

·         Identifies suspects through latent fingerprints recovered at crime scenes.

·         Creates composite drawings to aid in investigations and identifications.

      Fugitive Enforcement Division

                 COLD CASE SQUAD

·         Investigates open homicides and serious shootings more than six months old.

·         Cases may involve known suspects who have evaded capture or investigations in which a perpetrator has yet to be identified.

                  JUVENILE CRIME SQUADS

·         Investigative arms of city Corporation Counsel attorneys responsible for prosecuting juveniles in Family court.

·         Responsible for enhancing cases, conducting juvenile lineups, interviewing juveniles under arrest, locating witnesses/complainants and identifying and arresting accomplices.

                 WARRANT SECTION

·         Responsible for apprehending persons wanted on felony bench warrants, indictment warrants and arrest warrants.

·         Works closely with investigators from other state and federal law enforcement agencies: Parole, U.S. Marshals and the FBI.

          Special Investigation Division

     MAJOR CASE SQUAD

      ·         Kidnappings as directed by the Chief of Detectives.

·         Thefts of art objects from museums or galleries.

·         Truck hijackings and burglaries or larcenies from trucks in excess of $100,000.

·         Commercial burglaries in excess of $100,000.

·         Bank robberies and larcenies by extortion.

·         Burglaries involving safes or vaults.

·         Illegal construction coalition activity.

    SPECIAL FRAUDS SQUAD

·         Crimes involving securities, forgeries, airline tickets, credit cards.

·         Crimes involving pickpockets or confidence games.

·         Communications fraud.

     MISSING PERSONS SQUAD

·         Investigates cases of missing persons and instances in which deceased individuals have not been identified or had next of kin notified.

·         Fields a medical examiner's liaison unit responsible for fingerprinting deceased persons brought to city morgues.

     ARSON/EXPLOSION SQUAD

·         Explosions and designated incidents of arson.

·         Coordinates investigative efforts with the Bureau of Fire Investigation.

     ARSON TASK FORCE

·         Investigates arson for profit and insurance fraud.

                 SID SURVEILLANCE / APPREHENSION SQUAD

·         Provides surveillance and apprehension assistance to the entire division, as well as the rest of the Detective Bureau upon request.

      JOINT TERRORIST TASK FORCE

·         Investigates terrorist activity directed at the New York City metropolitan area.

      JOINT BANK ROBBERY TASK FORCE

·         Armed bank robberies and bank burglaries.

·         Armored car robberies.

·         Federal warrants for kidnapping and bank robberies.

·         Interstate kidnappings or parental kidnappings where children are taken outside the United States.

      JOINT ROBBERY APPREHENSION TEAM

·         Focuses on push-in residential robberies.

                  HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE

• The Hate Crimes Task Force focuses on apprehending perpetrators of hate crimes - unlawful acts committed against persons, groups or places targeted because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender or age.