The Groton Town Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is responsible for conducting criminal investigations in the Town of Groton. The primary emphasis is on serious crimes, such as homicides, sexual assaults, crimes against children and other special victims, robberies, serious physical assaults, arsons, commercial and residential burglaries, as well as narcotic related cases. The Criminal Investigation Division also conducts investigations of complicated thefts, such as embezzlements, confidence frauds, identity theft, and large forgery operations. The Division also conducts investigations of crime sprees, and of criminal acts that lead outside the Department’s primary area of responsibility.
The Criminal Investigation Division is also responsible for the processing of evidence and crime scenes. Evidence can be either processed in the field, or brought back to the Groton Town Police Department Headquarters, and processed in the Criminal Investigation Division’s processing lab. The Criminal Investigation Division is also responsible for the control and custody of all evidence seized by the Department.
The Criminal Investigation Division conducts technical and special surveillance operations, utilizing technical video and audio surveillance, thus allowing the detectives to gather valuable evidence during investigations. The Detectives also utilize special marking devices, such as Ultra Violet residue powders. The special marking devices cannot be seen by the naked eye, and help identify and track suspects during certain investigations.
The Criminal Investigation Division also assists the Secret Service, the United States Capitol Police, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in providing protective service security to visiting Dignitaries. They conduct threat assessments to the resources in the Town of Groton, CT. The Criminal Investigation Division is the Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, and The Joint Terrorist Task Force.
The Criminal Investigation Division is comprised of a Detective Lieutenant and a Detective Sergeant who supervise the division of eight sworn officers who hold the rank of Detective or Investigator. These Detectives/ Investigators have received advanced training in criminal investigation procedures, as well as special training, such as, Search and Seizure, Crime Scene Processing, Criminal Photography, Evidence processing, Arson Investigation, Fraud Investigation, Homicide Investigation, Shooting reconstruction, Cold Case Investigations, Shoe wear and tire impression recognition, Blood spatter recognition, and various Advanced Narcotic Related Investigative Schools. Although Detectives/ Investigators work a set schedule, they are all subject to call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The Criminal Investigation Division also provides briefings to business groups and various organizations, on the topics of Robbery Prevention, Fraud Prevention, Counterfeit and Forgery Detection, as well as Narcotic and Gang Awareness.