Special Services Division

Investigations Unit

The Investigations Unit is part of the Special Services Division. This Division handles most investigations. When cases need timely and extensive follow-up, the Investigative Unit takes the case. For example, all homicides and major felonies are investigated here. The Investigations Unit is staffed by three full time Detectives and is supervised by the Detective Sergeant. All Detectives receive training in the area of General Crimes Investigations but each has a primary speciality such as: Sexual Assault Investigations, High Tech Crimes, including Internet Crimes, and Narcotics Investigation.

The Investigations Unit is on call 24 hours a day and are called to crime scenes to conduct technical investigations where suspects are not known or not immediately arrested by their patrol counter parts. The Investigations Unit also uses high tech investigative resources to track down wanted suspects and keep track of those individuals who are required to register with the police for sex crimes and narcotics violations.

Because of the their training and experience the detectives are many times called upon to conduct sensitive and surveillance investigations.

Property Crimes

Property crimes are those crimes that impact property rather than people. These include residential burglary, grand theft, commercial burglary and vehicle burglary. Property Crimes personnel work with the Crime Analysis Unit in order to attempt to identify trends which may help to track down criminals. They also work closely with the Identification Unit to obtain and match fingerprints found at the scene with those of known criminals. They work hard trying to arrest those responsible and return properties to those victimized by these criminals.

Economic Crimes

All forgeries, frauds, Internet crimes including identity theft and fraud. The detectives work very closely with banks and various financial institutions, providing training and support in an effort to prevent these types of crimes before they happen.

Crimes Against Persons

The Investigative Unit investigates felony assaults, robberies, homicides, death investigations, possession of dangerous weapons, runaway and missing persons cases occurring within the City of Oakdale.

The primary duty of Crimes Against Persons personnel is to conduct competent follow-up investigation on the all cases assigned in a thorough and professional manner. Investigations are conducted following the appropriate policies and procedures as set forth in the Oakdale Police Department’s General Orders, and within the parameters of local, State and Federal laws.

Narcotics Enforcement

The Detective Sergeant and one of the Detectives are responsible for investigations in the area of Narcotics Crimes such as narcotic activity, chronic crimes (repeated crimes) and vice crimes, where an officer has to conduct an investigation while undercover. They are also are involved with educating the public regarding the topic of narcotics. Several lectures and speaking angagements are scheduled throughout the year with public and private schools as well as private clubs and neighborhoods.