Criminal Investigations Unit

The Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) is supervised by a detective sergeant, who is responsible for reviewing all incoming cases, making decisions on follow-up investigations and assigning cases to the detectives for investigation.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) is to provide high quality criminal investigative support to the Paradise Valley Police Department by conducting timely and thorough criminal investigations using advanced investigative techniques, and through an efficient use of resources. Motivated only by a search for the truth, CIU detectives will search out and collect all available evidence surrounding each case to exonerate the innocent and substantiate the culpability of the guilty. As professional fact finders, CIU detectives will conduct systematic and methodical investigations to determine what findings the evidence supports and will not form conclusions in advance.

CIU detectives recognize their responsibilities to the community they serve and are committed to investigating all criminal allegations in an ethical and impartial manner with sensitivity toward the needs of victims and witnesses. CIU detectives are steadfast in their resolve and will mobilize all available resources to accomplish their mission, despite any obstacles, discouragement, or danger. CIU is dedicated to providing superior investigative services to the Paradise Valley Police Department to preserve the quality of life that our citizens and visitors enjoy.

Functions

The Criminal Investigation Unit, commonly known as CIU, provides professional investigative services to the Town of Paradise Valley. Through thorough investigations, CIU will aggressively seek out justice on those who have victimized Town residents and Town visitors. CIU will also conduct sensitive or special investigations as directed by the Chief of Police. CIU conducts a broad spectrum of criminal investigations to include deaths, sexual assaults, armed robberies, burglaries, frauds, computer crimes and narcotic crimes.

CIU searches out the full facts of a situation, organizes the facts into a logical summary of investigative data, and presents this data to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. CIU also provides criminal intelligence and forensic investigative support for the Patrol Division. CIU works closely with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Town of Paradise Valley Magistrate Court and with investigators from other jurisdictions.

Specific functions include:

  • Investigate crimes until all leads have been exhausted
  • Perform crime suppression operations to include serving search warrants
  • Collect, analyze and disseminate criminal intelligence
  • Liaison with other local, state and Federal investigative agencies/units
  • Liaison with the Maricopa County Attorney
  • Conduct pre-employment background investigations
  • Conduct missing persons investigations
  • Conduct internal affairs investigations
  • Collect and examine evidence at crime scenes
  • Maintain custody of evidence
  • Conduct sensitive or special investigations as directed by the Chief of Police

The Paradise Valley Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit provides support assistance to the Patrol Division by assuming investigative responsibility involving major crimes occurring within the Town. Detectives are tasked with conducting fire investigations, crime scene investigations, serious traffic crashes, computer and technology based crimes, financial crimes, robbery, home invasion, and countless other felonies needing extensive follow-up.

In addition, Detectives are frequently asked to provide presentations to local area groups and address a variety of concerning topics. Also, they attend local and regional meetings with other police agency detectives to discuss on-going investigations and commonalities between jurisdictions.

Detectives have an excellent working relationship with the other local police agency Detectives in Maricopa County.