| INVESTIGATIONS | |
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The Chowchilla Police Department Investigations Division is comprised of four full-time detectives: Detective Sergeant, Generalist Detective, Narcotics Detective, and Gang Detective. The Detective Sergeant is responsible for and supervises the Investigations Division Personnel within their field of expertise. The Generalist Detective investigates cases directly related to crimes committed within the City of Chowchilla. The Narcotics Detective investigates cases within the City of Chowchilla and is a member of the Madera County Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET). The Gang Detective investigates and handles cases within the City of Chowchilla and is a member of the Madera County Gang Enforcement Team (MADGET). Each detective is assigned according to their field of expertise, however, each detective, with the assistance of the Detective Sergeant, serves as a team player collaborating with each other on criminal cases within the city. Also assisting in the Investigations Division is one Community Service Officer (CSO) trained in Crime Scene Investigations. Criminal cases are first investigated by patrol officers when they respond to service calls. Successful investigations have shown the initial criminal investigation by patrol officers contains the most physical and informational evidence needed to solve a case and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Chowchilla Police Department encourages our patrol officers to actively pursue criminal cases at the onset of the crime. A patrol officer dispatched to the scene of a crime will take the initial report and will follow up on the information and leads to expedite solving the case. Follow up investigations will require police officers to interview the victim, witness, suspect, and collect evidence to forward to the County District Attorney. If you are involved in an investigations case, you are encouraged to contact the responding officer handling your case, since that officer would be most familiar with your case. Some investigations, however, go beyond the realm of the responding patrol officer's duties. In this instance, the investigation is subsequently forwarded to the Investigations Division. Detectives will then take the investigation over in order to pursue and build a case against those who commit crimes in our community. From fraud and theft to kidnapping and murder, and from narcotic violations to gang violations, detectives spend many hours solving crimes and prosecuting offenders. Detectives will file charges against criminals and work together with patrol officers, other law enforcement agencies, and the County District Attorney to put together a solid case. Chowchilla detectives are generally assigned to the Investigations Division for a time period of a minimum of three years. At the end of their detail, detectives go back into uniform and patrol the streets of the city using their added knowledge they have gained from the Investigations Division to better serve the community.
If you have information that will help the Chowchilla
Police Department solve a crime, please call the department at (559) 665-8600
or email the specific detective you wish to reach (see email links above).
If you have knowledge of a crime, your information will be kept with the
strictest confidentiality. If you wish to remain anonymous, call our
24-hour, 7 day-a-week Anonymous Tip Line at (559) 665-8624. |
