This Division’s primary function is the investigation of major felony criminal cases, as well as cases that may be particularly complex or sensitive. This Division also provides general and specialized support to other law enforcement agencies within the county. A Commander oversees this Division, as well as the Narcotics Division. The Investigations Division is structured as follows:

Homicide/Robbery Unit: The unit consists of two investigative sections.

The Homicide, Robbery and Assault Section investigates homicides, suspicious deaths, deaths within the Custody Operations Bureau, robberies, kidnaps, and serious assaults.

The Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Section investigates domestic violence cases, sexual assaults and reported or suspected physical abuse against the young and the elderly.

Crimes Against Property Unit: The unit investigates crimes against property such as burglary, fraud, grand theft, embezzlement, and other related crimes. This unit also investigates those crimes that may be beyond the resources or expertise of an initiating unit, and may pursue the investigation of cases related to another crime or suspect under investigation.

Agricultural Crimes Unit: This is a new, grant funded unit. Its purpose is to identify and address those crimes that impact the agriculture industry in Monterey County. Working with a Crime Analyst, the detectives will coordinate their efforts with other law enforcement agencies on the Central Coast and in the Central Valley. The unit coordinates with other counties through the Central Coast Regional Ag Task Force, and through the ACTION Project, a federally funded regional agriculture crime prevention group.

Forensic Services Unit: There are two sections. The mission of this unit is to provide law enforcement agencies and the public with impartial, competent, professional and expeditious forensic services and training. This unit provides support throughout the Sheriff’s Office to facilitate the general law enforcement mission. This unit also provides technical support, crime scene processing and latent fingerprint comparisons to outside agencies as directed by the Division Commander.

The Crime Laboratory Section is responsible for the technical aspects of collecting, preserving, analyzing and documenting evidence. Unit staff also physically identifies and compares fingerprints and other evidence connected with criminal cases, testifies in court as expert witnesses, and does related work as required. They are also responsible for submitting work results into the California Identification System (Cal ID), an automated system maintained by the Department of Justice for retaining fingerprint files and identifying latent fingerprints.

The Property/Evidence Section is responsible for receiving, storing, recording, safeguarding, releasing and disposing of evidence or abandoned property, and to perform related work as required.