DETECTIVE DIVISION

The Detective Division’s mission and primary responsibility is to thoroughly investigate felony and serious misdemeanor crimes occurring within Norfolk’s jurisdiction and to identify, arrest, and present offenders to the judicial system. Investigators work cooperatively with officers and investigators from other divisions, personnel from other city departments, other local, state and federal agencies, and citizens to accomplish this mission. Through cooperative efforts, not only are crimes and patterns detected, suspects identified, located, and arrested, but also awareness and prevention programs are initiated to protect lives and property enhancing the quality of life in Norfolk.

The Detective Division is structured to deliver services efficiently and effectively to the citizens of Norfolk. The Detective Division is situated within the Investigative Services Bureau under the direction of an Assistant Chief of Police and is commanded by a Captain. Four lieutenants are assigned to oversee the Violent Crimes Unit, Property Crimes Unit, Special Crimes Unit, and the Investigative Support Unit. Each unit contains sections and/or squads assigned to investigate specific criminal offenses.

Violent Crimes Unit

Homicide Section is responsible for investigating all murders, unattended deaths, accidental deaths, non-sexual abductions, assaults, malicious woundings, shootings into occupied vehicles or dwellings, deaths of individuals in custody, and shootings involving police officers if injury or death is involved.

Robbery Section is responsible for investigating business robberies, robberies to the individual, larcenies from the person, purse snatchings, extortion, jail escapes, and possession of sawed-off shotgun cases.

Gang Squad is responsible for gathering intelligence on gangs, gang activity and initiating gang affiliation prosecutions. The Gang Squad also investigates school related incidents involving weapons, mob assaults, and graffiti incidents.

Property Crimes Unit

Burglary Section is responsible for investigating commercial and residential burglaries occurring in Norfolk.

Pawn Shop Enforcement Team operates within the Burglary Section and is responsible for monitoring the activities of all Norfolk pawn shops, junk yards, antique dealers, precious metals dealers, second hand shops and flea markets. The team also maintains records of transactions by these businesses.

Auto Section is responsible for investigating stolen vehicles, unauthorized use of motor vehicles, failure to return rental vehicles, possession of stolen vehicles, attempts to steal vehicles, larcenies of plates, inspection decals, hit and runs, and assaults with vehicles.

General Assignment Section investigates grand larcenies, larcenies from vehicles, and other felony thefts. The section also investigates criminal communications, runaways, and missing persons cases. In addition, these investigators also provide 24 hour a day criminal investigation services by conducting initial investigations of other major crimes until specific personnel can respond.

Special Crimes Unit

Sexual Assault/Family Violence Section is responsible for investigating rapes, indecent exposure, child pornography, stalking, domestic violence, child abuse/neglect felonies, child abductions, and missing children cases.

Economic Crimes/Fugitive Section investigates “white collar” crimes of fraud, forgery, worthless checks, credit card theft, false pretense, failure to perform construction, embezzlement, and identity theft. The fugitive investigator maintains files on wanted persons and handles cases of persons arrested in Norfolk on warrants from other jurisdictions.

Investigative Support Unit

Commonwealth’s Attorney Section acts as a liaison for the Norfolk Police Department with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and all other law enforcement agencies presenting cases for prosecution by the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Section investigators also conduct investigations and provide other assistance to support successful criminal prosecutions as requested by the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Forensic Section is responsible for the preservation, documentation and collection of evidence from crime scenes. This section also examines evidence and scenes for latent prints, other trace evidence, and digital and electronic evidence to identify suspects and provide information on how, when and where crimes were committed.