Mesa Police Department 2001 Annual Report

Persons Detail | Property Detail/Auto Theft Unit | Property Detail/Crime Free Unit | Center Against Family Violence | Special Investigations Division | Narcotics | Neighborhood Drug Interdiction Team | Asset Forfeiture | Special Crimes Apprehension Team | Gang Unit | G.R.E.A.T. | Mesa Gang Intervention Project | Intelligence Unit | Staff Resources |Training | Range | Human Resources | Career Development | Crime Prevention | Volunteers In Police Service | Senior Safety/Elder Abuse Program | Off Duty Employment

Criminal Investigations Division

The Criminal Investigations Division is structured into three sections. These sections are the Persons Crimes, the Property Crimes, and the Center Against Family Violence.

Persons Detail -- The Crimes Against Persons Section has the responsibility of investigating homicides, suspicious deaths, assaults, kidnappings, robberies, and stalking (non-domestic) cases, as well as missing persons cases. Within this division there is a Major Incident Response Team (MIRT) that is divided into three squads that can be called out at any time. Each team is composed of a supervisor and detectives from the homicide, robbery and  violent crimes units. the MIRT responds to major incidents such as homicides, officer involved shootings, SWAT incidents and critical injury aggravated assaults. The Major Incident Response Team quickly responds to support the patrol division. This response provides the expertise to handle major crime scenes. It also allows patrol officers to return to their beat assignments. Experienced investigators will take the case over from patrol units, which affords the department quality investigation and prompt resolution of many devastating cases. Members of the MIRT responded to 164 incidents in 2001.

Property Detail/Auto Theft Unit -- The Auto Theft Unit conducts investigations involving the theft of vehicles and theft from vehicles. The unit continued the Watch Your Car program to assist with the prevention of vehicle thefts and the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery program to aid in the recovery of stolen vehicles. [Article: Anti-Theft Tool Helps Cops Find Vehicle]  Visit the Auto Theft website at www.cityofmesa.org/police/cid/autotheft/default.aspx.

Property Detail/Crime Free Unit -- The Crime Free Unit is made up of the following Crime Free Programs: Multi-Housing, Mini-Storage, Mobile Home, Condominium, Redistribution and Hotel/Motel. The Crime Free Unit takes an active role in educating the department's officers and detectives on the various specialized programs in the Crime Free Unit. The Crime Free Unit works closely with Mesa business owners and citizens to inform them of crime prevention strategies and to facilitate the resolution of crime problems. As a result of the Crime Free Programs, the organization has realized a dramatic decrease in related calls for service.

Center Against Family Violence -- The Center Against Family Violence (CAFV) has now been in operation for nearly six years. The Center was designed to reduce further trauma to victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence through a multidisciplinary team process. Since opening, the Center has expanded its services to include the investigation of sex crimes, physical abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, missing persons, and sex offender management.

Included in the multidisciplinary team is the Mesa Police Criminal Investigations Division, Victim Services, Child Protective Services, Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Mesa city Prosecutor's Office, a forensic physician, and Center Against Sexual Abuse. The Center continues to be a model for similar centers across the country.

The CAFV made improvements to the physical security of the building, revamped interview rooms and office space. A stairway enclosure dramatically reduced noise at the Center. A new medical suite was opened which facilitates both child and adult medical examinations in a private, secure setting. The year 2001 also saw the formation of the Computer Forensic Squad, staffed by a sergeant and two detectives.

The Center averaged 212 sex and/or physical abuse cases and 172 domestic violence cases per month.

Plans for 2002 include continued advances in technology. [Article: Mesa Police Take New Tack in Monitoring Sex Offenders]   For more information on the Center, visit www.cityofmesa.org/police/cafv/default.aspx.