2006 DPS Annual Report - Arizona Department of Public Safety

Criminal
Investigations
Division
digital assistant technology, and computer networking.
• Conducts computer seizure and forensics training to criminal investigators from law enforcement
agencies across the state.
Investigation Bureau
The Investigation Bureau is comprised of three districts: Vehicle Theft Interdiction, Northern Investigation
and Major Crimes Investigation. These three districts are further divided into specialized units:
Special Investigations, Vehicle Crimes, Auto Theft and General Investigations. Below is a general
overview of the responsibilities of the Investigation Bureau.
• Investigates the Department=s critical incidents which may involve death or serious injury and provides
investigative support to other units in the investigation of less serious critical incidents.
• Investigates alleged criminal misconduct by departmental employees.
• Investigates alleged public official and employee misconduct for political subdivisions throughout
Arizona.
• Investigates critical incidents and allegations of criminal misconduct involving employees of city,
county, state and federal agencies. Investigations include homicides, vehicle pursuits resulting in
serious injury or death, allegations of sexual misconduct, employee theft and officer-involved
shootings.
• Assists city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies by providing investigative support
into serious crimes occurring within their communities.
• Provides support to the Highway Patrol Division to include investigations involving aggravated
assault, homicide, hit-and-run collisions and narcotic interdiction.
• Provides investigative expertise and expert court testimony when a vehicle is the instrumentality in a
homicide, aggravated assault and other related crimes; and/or when the State of Arizona may be
exposed to civil litigation as a result of the collision.
• Provides class instruction in the area of collision investigation and reconstruction to our agency as
well as other agencies around the state.
Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force
The Vehicle Theft Task Force is funded by a grant from the Arizona Auto Theft Authority. The task
force consists of city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies participating in a concerted
effort to identify, apprehend and prosecute individuals and criminal organizations that profit from the
theft of motor vehicles and related crimes.
• Investigates property crimes involving vehicles and related components, and insurance fraud.
• Provides technical expertise, training and investigative support to law enforcement agencies targeting
auto theft and related crimes.
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