Detectives

The Detective Division is responsible for providing the follow-up investigation required to solve reported offenses. The Detective Division is also responsible for developing the intelligence necessary to proactively prevent criminal activity.

The members of the Detective Division conduct the leg-work for most investigations and are responsible for the collection and evaluation of physical evidence. The Detective Division is broken down into 3 sections, which consist of juvenile investigations, adult investigations, and narcotics investigations.

SERVICES
Through the hard work and dedication of the members of this division, the Bristol Police Department is capable of providing its citizens with quality investigative services. Services provided by the Detective Division include:

• Crime Scene Processing
• Evidence Handling
• Interviews and Interrogations
• Search Warrant Preparation
• Surveillance

The Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) is responsible for collection, preservation, and documentation of all major crime scenes.

The Detective Division is responsible for follow-up investigation of felony crimes reported to the Bristol Police Department.

ACTIVE ORGANIZATIONS & LIAISONS
The unit maintains a liaison with the Rhode Island Crime Lab and the Forensic Services Division of the Department of Health.

The unit is active in organizations such as the:

• Rhode Island Criminalists Associates
• New England Division of the International Association for Identification
• International Association for Identification

PROCESS
All felony cases are evaluated for solvability by the Detective Division Supervisor. If a case has a good chance of solvability, the case is assigned to a detective. Case solvability is determined by the existence of investigational leads. These leads must indicate the potential for successful arrest and conviction. Since police resources are limited, it is not effective or practical to devote investigational resources to cases with little chance of a successful resolution.

Common examples of investigational leads include:

• Suspect is known by a victim
• Existence of fingerprints
• Existence of a surveillance photo
• Other substantial information which my lead to the identification of a suspect

If sufficient investigational leads do not exist, the case will be suspended. If new information develops in the future, a case can be reopened and assigned to a detective.

RISK
Detectives may become involved with the investigation of other incidents, which could pose substantial risk to the lives or property of our citizens. Such cases may include missing persons, sex registrant management, and other suspicious activity that may result in a criminal offense.

The Prosecution Division is responsible for prosecuting all adults and juveniles who commit offenses in the Town of Bristol.

All adults charged with a misdemeanor, which are crimes punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to $1,000 fine, are disposed of primarily by the Prosecution Division, unless the case goes to trial. In trial cases, the Town Solicitor will prosecute the case.

The Prosecution Division also handles all traffic cases that are referred to the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, Bristol Municipal Court all discovery issues, and all subpoena issues for any of the courts.