Criminal Investigations Section

The Auto Theft Unit is responsible for the investigation of motor vehicle theft. These duties include conducting interviews and interrogations of potential suspects, witnesses, and crime victims. They are also responsible for maintaining accurate documentation of investigative notes as well as assisting the Commonwealth Attorney's Office in preparation for prosecution of cases. In addition, this unit handles the investigation of hit and run accidents and assists other area departments, as needed, regarding vehicles stolen elsewhere and recovered in Chesapeake. The Auto Theft detectives secure and serve warrants on any individual identified as the offender through the investigative process. As a part of the investigative process the detectives locate and recover stolen autos. In addition, the Auto Theft detectives work in collaboration with other jurisdictions to identify offenders.

The Court Liaison is comprised of one Detective, assigned to coordinate the police role in the prosecution of suspected criminal offenders.

The Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) is assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau of the Chesapeake Police Department. The scope of support provided includes strategic, tactical, and administrative crime analysis. The CAU is responsible for providing detailed and timely crime analysis to all levels of the Police Department, including command personnel, supervisors, detectives and patrol officers. Information from the CAU is disseminated in the form of "Crime Bulletins" which identify specific crime problems, "Crime Alerts" which indicate that crime problems previously identified in a Crime Bulletin are continuing or increasing, "Crime Leads" which detail information relating to the identification of suspects in criminal cases or information related to serial crimes committed by the same suspects, and specialized crime studies and statistical reports. A Crime Analyst also instructs at the Basic Police Recruit Academy, the Auxiliary Police Academy, the Citizens Police Academy, and In-Service Training classes for sworn officers. The CAU reviews crime reports to identify crime patterns and trends, and also performs complex crime analysis to forecast future crime in an effort to assist command personnel in preparing strategic action plans for personnel allocation.

To enhance communication and information sharing with regional law enforcement agencies, crime analysts attend several monthly meetings to include, but not limited to: Regional Monthly Crime Analysis meetings and Regional Robbery Meetings. The CAU also creates and disseminates maps depicting crime hot spots and aerial imaging using the latest mapping technology. The CAU also plays a vital role in updating and maintaining statistics and mapping for the Drug Offender Mapping Program which is used to restrict newly arrested felony drug offenders from loitering in identified neighborhoods that have elevated drug and violence related activity. The CAU also monitors laws and emerging technology and recommends or implements new or improved processes within the Police Department.

This unit is responsible for investigating all cases involving crimes committed against other persons. These crimes consist of all felonious assaults, missing persons, abuse of the mentally disabled and elderly in adult care facilities, as well as more violent crimes, like rape, robbery and murder. The Unit is also charged with investigating all suspicious and unnatural deaths, sexual assaults and rape cases. The Unit is responsible for ensuring that all tangible evidence is collected at crime scenes and all material witnesses, suspects, and victims are interviewed to assist with a successful prosecution, if an arrest is made.

The Crimes Against Property Unit investigates crimes involving the theft of property from larcenies and burglaries. This includes both residential and commercial locations. Property Crimes detectives conduct interviews and interrogations of potential suspects, witnesses and crime victims. They are also responsible for maintaining accurate documentation of investigative notes, as well as, assisting the Commonwealth Attorney's Office in preparation for prosecution of cases. Property Crimes detectives secure and serve warrants on any individual identified as the offender through the investigative process. As a part of the investigative process detectives locate and recover stolen property. In addition, Property Crime detectives work in collaboration with other jurisdictions to identify offenders.

The Economic Crime Unit of the Chesapeake Police Department investigates any and all complaints of white-collar crime within our city. These include, but are not limited to:

• Fraud: computer, bank, check, contract, etc.
• Forgery: any and all types
• Embezzlement: both corporate and private
• Credit Card: theft, manufacture, counterfeiting, illegal use, etc.
• Bad Check: all citizen or business complaints
• Counterfeiting: currency, checks, credit cards
• Construction Fraud: all complaints

The Economic Crime Unit further conducts all handwriting exemplars and conducts initial analysis of same. Additionally, the Economic Crime Unit assist personnel of the Chesapeake Police Department with technical advise on cases worked outside the Economic Crime Unit.

The Polygraph Unit of the Chesapeake Police Department is comprised of examiners that have been licensed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The training required for licensure is extensive and includes an internship, working under the supervision of an Intern Supervisor. The polygraph examiners are assigned to different units/sections throughout the Police Department.

The types of examinations that are conducted consist of pre-employment, criminal, administrative and examinations requested by other agencies. Examination results have been instrumental in identifying and eliminating suspects and confirming applicant integrity, while providing a very high level of conclusive results.

The Special Victims Unit (SVU) is an investigative branch within the Chesapeake Police Department. The unit investigates criminal acts of Child Abuse (physical and sexual), Adult Sexual Assault, and Elderly Abuse. The unit works closely with outside agencies in order to obtain successful arrest and the safety and well-being of victims. Many outside agencies that assist the Special Victims Unit include the following: Chesapeake Social Services Bureau, Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, Chesapeake City Attorney's Office, Chesapeake Sheriff's Victim - Witness Program, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter's Child Abuse Program and YMCA Response Rape Crisis Center.

The unit aims to:

• Detect and stop the sexual abuse of adults and child and prevent its recurrence;
• To arrest and assist in the prosecution of the offenders accused of sexual and physical criminal acts;
• To assist victims and families in locating support services for trauma based treatment.

These aims are accomplished through the investigative process which encompasses the following components:

• Criminal interview process of the victims, suspects, and witnesses and to assist in the prosecution of the responsible offender;
• Assist Chesapeake Social Services, Child and Adult Protective Services with their civil investigative process;
• Working in partnership with the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter's Child Abuse Program Multi-Disciplinary Team;
• Utilizing the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter's Child Abuse Program, forensic interview process of victims, to assist in the successful prosecution of offenders.