The Criminal Investigations Bureau is responsible for the investigation of crimes that affect the lives, health and welfare of the public. Investigators assigned to this Bureau are highly skilled Investigators who have earned their positions by demonstrating the knowledge, skills and abilities crucial to being a successful Investigator.
If you need to speak with a member of the Criminal Investigations Bureau, please call us at 850-891-4331, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm (excluding holidays).
The Criminal Investigation Bureau consists of the following specialized Units:
Property Crimes
Property Crimes Unit
The Property Crimes Unit (PCU) has the primary responsibility of investigating Grand/Petit Thefts, Retail Thefts, Criminal Mischiefs, Animal Abuse, Pawn Shop/Secondhand Dealers, Utility Theft, Littering and Lost Property. The Unit works closely with area pawn shops and second hand dealers to locate stolen property and identifying suspects.
A PCU Investigator serves on the Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACTF). The ACTF consists of community members, local government officials and law enforcement whose overall mission is to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of animals and people in our city.
To learn more about reporting suspected animal abuse or neglect, please visit our animal abuse page.
Property Crimes Task Force
The Property Crimes Task Force (PCTF) is a multi-agency task force comprised of members from the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). PCTF was formed through a Task Force Memorandum of Agreement wherein the agencies combined their resources to more effectively respond and investigate auto thefts and auto burglaries occurring throughout Leon County. The PCTF is focused on the proactive and follow-up investigations of criminals and criminal activity specifically associated with property crimes including auto theft and auto burglary.
More information on Vehicle Burglary Prevention.
Burglary Crimes Unit
The Burglary Crimes Unit (BCU) has the primary responsibility of investigating:
- Residential Burglary
- Commercial Burglary
- Burglary with Person Assaulted
- Loitering and Prowling
- Trespassing
In an effort to establish specific crime trends and patterns, members of BCU are assigned geographical locations to maximize follow-up investigations.
When contacting the Criminal Investigations Bureau (850-891-4331) to discuss a case, be prepared to provide your case number so you can be referred quickly to the assigned Investigator. More information on Residential Burglary Prevention.
Financial Crimes and Identity Theft
Financial Crime Unit
The Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) has the primary responsibility of investigating Credit Card Fraud, Bank Fraud, Identity Theft, Grand Theft, Mail Fraud, Forgery/Uttering, Counterfeiting, Embezzlement, Elderly Exploitation, and Organized Schemes to Defraud. Investigators work with members of the business community to assist other investigators in cases where financial data has been taken during another offense and used fraudulently. Since many of these offenses cross multiple jurisdictions, members of this unit work cooperatively with other municipal, state and federal law enforcement investigators. For more information on Financial Crimes.
Identity Theft and Financial Crimes
To better serve the citizens of Tallahassee, the Financial Crimes Unit provides direct links to report specific types of financial crimes to the proper authority. If you are a victim of Tax Fraud, an Internet Scam, or Employee Compensation Fraud, please visit TPD's Online Crime Reporting page to be directed to the proper reporting authority. If you are the victim of any other type of financial crime, please consider reporting the incident to the Tallahassee Police Department using our Internet based reporting application.
The Financial Crimes Unit has also compiled a list of resources available for the victims of financial crimes:
Counterfeit Currency
Forensics Unit
The Tallahassee Police Department Forensic Unit is comprised of both Forensic Specialist I and II personnel.
Forensic Specialist I personnel cover requests for crime scene examination and all in house evidence requests. In house evidence requests refer to the examination and processing of items of physical evidence that are collected by Patrol Officers and Investigators during investigations where Forensic Unit personnel are not utilized.
Forensic Specialist II personnel share the same crime scene response duties as Forensic Specialist I personnel, however they do not work in house residence requests, they are instead assigned an additional forensic discipline in which they provide examinations and analysis. These forensic disciplines require specialized training and years of on the job instruction. In many cases this allows them to examine and render expert opinions as to the value and identification of an item of evidence.
These specialized areas include, but are not limited to:
- Latent Print Analysis,
- Biometric Identification System Examinations,
- Blood Stain Pattern Interpretation and Analysis,
- Forensic Photography and Digital Image Enhancement
In the performance of their duties, Forensic Specialists conduct examinations and analysis at the crime scene for traditional forensic evidence such as latent print evidence, trace evidence, footwear and tire tread evidence, firearms evidence, as well as controlled substance and toxicological evidence. Forensic Specialists also scour the scene for DNA evidence as well as other forms of biological evidence.
In addition to traditional forensic examination techniques, Specialists receive training in more advanced areas of forensic science to include:
- Medico-Legal Death Investigation,
- Forensic Entomology,
- Post Blast Investigations,
- Post Arson Investigations,
- Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation,
- Surface Skeleton and Buried Body recovery
Forensic Specialists are able to employ a variety of specialized processing techniques, as well as employ cutting edge technology, in order to discover, process, and collect the varied items of physical evidence found at a crime scene. The potential evidence found at a scene may have a direct impact on the successful investigation of a case.
These include mechanical and chemical methods such as; protein dye stains, alternate light sources, dust-mark electro-static lifting, and biological presumptive tests, all of which enable the Forensic Specialist to identify probative and valuable physical evidence associated with the subject, the victim, or the crime scene.
Juvenile Services Unit
The Juvenile Services Unit (JSU) is staffed by uniformed officers, criminal investigators and case managers. The primary goals of the Juvenile Services Unit are to reduce juvenile related crime through the use of subject focused intervention, investigations, and the gathering of intel related to organized criminal activities. Juvenile offenders are encouraged to engage in intervention programs, complete probation successfully, and to remain crime free. To accomplish these goals, the JSU utilizes the following programs:
- At-Risk Assistance Program (A-ARAP)
- Juvenile Habitual Offender (JHO) Program
- Responding Against Delinquency and Recidivism (RADAR) Program
- Juvenile Civil Citation (JCC) Program
- Prolific Juvenile Offender (JPO) Program
More information on each of these programs.
Persons Crimes
Violent Crimes Unit
The Violent Crimes Unit conducts investigations into crimes against persons, such as murder, attempted murder, suicides, battery/aggravated battery, assault/aggravated assault, domestic violence, violation of restraining order/injunction, kidnapping (adults), stalking, elder abuse, bomb threats, accidental deaths (drowning, electrocution), fire deaths, officer involved shootings, and officer involved deaths.
The Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) investigates all crimes against persons and specially trained advocates within the unit provide victim advocacy services.
Special Victims Unit
The primary responsibility of the Special Victims Unit (SVU) is to investigate and follow up in cases of Sexual Battery, Child Abuse/Neglect, Crimes against Children, Child pornography, Voyeurism, Missing Persons (adults and children), and Harassing/Threatening phone calls. Many of the crimes investigated by SVU are sexual in nature. SVU works closely with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
In addition to the above investigations the SVU also has three investigators assigned to Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). These investigators work closely with the North Florida ICAC Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Leon County Sheriff's Office (Leon County Sheriff's Office) in protecting Tallahassee's children against online predators. Many of these cases cross-jurisdictional lines, therefore this unit works closely with FDLE, ICE, the FBI and the US Attorney's Office. The FDLE web site provides several links that are useful in protecting children against sex offenders.
For more information, please visit TPD's Guide to Internet Safety.
Robbery Unit
The Robbery Unit investigates all robberies (the taking of property by force or the threat of force) to businesses and individuals, including armed and unarmed robberies, home invasions, and carjacking incidents in the City of Tallahassee. The Tallahassee Police Department Robbery Unit also handles the investigation of all local bank robberies. Specially trained advocates within the unit provide victim advocacy services
Victim Advocacy
The Tallahassee Police Department's Victim Advocate Unit was established in 1992 to provide immediate assistance to victims of crime as well as their families. The Victim Advocate Unit is committed to providing comprehensive services and support that address the physical and emotional needs that result from victimization. For more information, please visit TPD's Victim Advocacy Services.
Cold Cases
Recent advances in DNA technology have provided law enforcement agencies across the nation with the capability to re-examine forensic evidence from cases once thought to be unsolvable and consequently provide successful resolution through criminal prosecution. To that end, the Tallahassee Police Department has a Cold Case Unit, 850-891-4462.
The Cold Case Unit is responsible for the investigation into unsolved homicides and unsolved missing persons cases. The unit reviews open/unsolved major cases, discuss solvability factors of the reviewed cases and provide written documentation as to follow up investigation recommended on those cases.
Reviewed cases that are recommended for additional investigation remain with the unit and are actively pursued. The unit utilizes several resources to aid in their follow-up investigations. The goal of every investigation reopened is to provide judicious resolution to the victims and their families.
For more information, visit the Cold Cases page.