CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION (C.I.D.)

Authorized Strength

The Criminal Investigation Division is responsible for investigating a full range of criminal activity, maintaining the entire Sheriff's Office's evidence, and disposing of unclaimed property.

Investigators handle cases ranging from homicides to misdemeanor cases and are routinely assigned to burglaries, robberies, thefts, sexual assaults, domestic violence, child abuse, suspicious deaths, and forgeries.

Investigators may respond as deputies in a routine matter or may assume the investigations of complex or time consuming matters.

In addition, Investigators are assigned to such diverse duties as undercover assignments and to work investigations with other law enforcement agencies, Local, State and Federal to include Military Authorities.

Narcotics

The Narcotics Investigator is responsible for the investigation of illegal drug trafficking throughout Bell County and the arrest and conviction of those persons possessing and dealing in illicit drugs.

Investigators assigned to Narcotics work with other Local, State and Federal Agencies.

The fundamental method of investigation by the Narcotics Unit is an undercover "buy" operation.

Drugs that are purchased on the street are later used as evidence at the defendant's trial or are destroyed.

Physical Evidence Section

The staff examines items of physical evidence which are gathered in criminal cases. Crime scene fingerprints are examined and identified. Trace evidence is preserved for evaluation by Police Forensic Labs.