Criminal Investigations Bureau

What do they do?

After a report is taken in the field by one of our patrol officers, it is forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Bureau for further investigation. Detectives follow-up on any possible leads, interview victims, witnesses and suspects (if any), and build a case against those individuals who would commit crimes in our community. After a case is built, Detectives will forward the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s office to obtain a criminal filing, and then work hand in hand with the courts for a successful prosecution. As you can imagine, countless hours are spent investigating these crimes which include Homicide, Kidnapping, Rape, Assault, Crimes against Children, Domestic Violence, Forgery, Fraud, Auto Theft, Burglary and Identity Theft.

If you have any information that will help the Cypress Police Detectives solve a crime, please call (714) 229-6631, or check the Criminal Investigations Bureau directory for a specific detective’s desk.

Crimes Against Persons

These are often the most notorious cases, which include investigations into homicides, robbery, felony assault (handguns, knives and other instruments), rape, hate crimes and missing adults. The detectives handling these crimes also coordinate efforts for successful prosecution against the suspects in court. By maintaining a close working relationship with the District Attorney's Office, the detectives begin preparing the more serious cases for court from the outset.

Property Crimes

The detectives assigned to investigate property crimes handle the highest volume of individual cases; residential and vehicle burglary, automobile (and boat) theft, and all other thefts. In addition to locating and arresting offenders, these detectives pride themselves on their efforts at recovering stolen property for return to their owners.

Juvenile Offenses

The decision to initiate prosecution proceedings against a juvenile offender is more complex than that of an adult. The detective handling juvenile offenses has a variety of options available as to the final disposition of the case. Many times, especially for repeat offenders and crimes involving violence, the juvenile court system is most appropriate. Other options include a system of organized counseling requiring parental involvement, restitution and mandatory workshops on "Youth, Family and Law" as well as a work service program.

Fraud/Forgery

The expertise required to investigate fraud crimes has become very complex. Detectives working fraud and forgery cases keep abreast of the current trends involving credit fraud, false impersonation and forgery cases. As technology in this area increases so have the thieves imagination. See more information about Identity Theft.

Domestic Violence

The investigation into reports of domestic violence have become more complicated in recent years as successful prosecution against these types of abusers has increased. Every report of domestic violence receives a follow-up contact and interview. The aggressors in these cases are arrested and prosecuted whenever possible in an effort to stop the "cycle of abuse." These detectives work closely with the Department of Social Services. These individuals pay particular attention to the welfare of children in the homes where domestic violence is occurring.

Property & Evidence

The Property and Evidence Unit is responsible for the daily processing and booking of criminal evidence collected by police personnel as part of crime scene investigation. The Police Services Officer assigned to Property maintains the daily security of property booked as lost, found, stolen, and for safekeeping. This assignment also requires data entry to maintain the integrity of the chain of evidence.

This unit is also responsible for the police department's fleet maintenance. This requires the coordinating of equipment repairs, unit damage repairs, unit video repairs, and radio repairs. Thousands of items are currently under observation for criminal cases pending hearing and adjudication. This unit, with the help of a Police Aide, perform routine purges, property releases, auction processing, and assists the Records Bureau in the unit video and audio duplication process.

The Police Service Officer also provides in-house booking procedure training to all teams for assuring that property and evidence is processed accurately from the moment it arrives.

Records Bureau

The Records Bureau staff maintain and process all the confidential information collected daily by law enforcement personnel. The Records Bureau consists of Records Clerks and Police Aides who are responsible for a broad range of services. These responsibilities include the daily maintenance and security of criminal offender record information for both local and state computer requirements. This includes processing information for all reports, court packages, in-custodies, data entries, crimes and arrests, citations, field investigations, sex and drug offenses, bicycle licenses, firearms registrations, dispositions, mug shots and the purging and destruction of archived files.

This bureau also orders supplies, maintains and revises department forms, answers business calls, public records releasing, citation sign offs, oversized vehicle and bicycle permit issuances, vehicle releases, warrant and disposition processing, bail releases, and provides daily customer service to citizens at our front counter business lobby. In today's Information Age, the Records Bureau is at the heart of the information processing and a critical part of the daily support functions.