APD Annual Reports - 2016 Annual Report | Page 44

Criminal Investigations Division

• The Homicide Unit solved a major cold case after hard work , perseverance and determination .
• Crimes Against Children Unit works to protect our community ’ s most vulnerable victims .
• Project RAISE focuses on reducing the cycle of family violence through a multi-faceted approach .
The Criminal Investigations Division encompasses Homicide , Gang , Robbery , Auto Theft , Regional Auto Theft Taskforce , Domestics , Sex Crimes , Economic Crimes , Fugitives , Crimes Against Children , and Vice and Narcotics Units . The homicide unit investigated 20 murder cases in 2016 . The unit also continued to work cases that are unsolved and lists several cold cases on the department ’ s website . Last year , homicide detectives received a break in the case of an elderly couple who were murdered in 2012 . The unit sifted through hundreds of leads but nothing material ever developed . The department received a break when a DNA confirmation hit identified the suspect . Two suspects have now been charged and are awaiting trial .
Crimes Against Children detectives primarily work criminal cases involving physical and sexual abuse of children and involve some of the most egregious and challenging cases . Detectives work to provide justice for children who cannot protect themselves and most of the time , the suspect is a family member or someone who is close to the child . In 2016 , the unit was assigned 419 cases involving some type of sexual abuse of a child .
One of the cases involved two boys who found the courage to speak out and inform investigators that they endured abuse for nearly three years . Detectives worked closely with Child Protective Services and The Alliance for Children to bring safety
to the victims . The adoptive father was charged with multiple felonies related to the offense . The children have been provided the necessary tools and resources to help them recover through this ordeal .
Project RAISE ( Risk Assessment Intervention Safety Engagement ) is a program that conducts follow-up home visits with the Top 3 repeat domestic locations in each district once a month . Victim Services Counselors and patrol officers respond to these locations in an
effort to offer a support system and help develop a safety plan that will return victims to a healthy climate to enjoy life . The department has determined that arrests made by police are not enough to deter repeat cycles of violence . The program has been effective in providing needed services to victims and restoring a sense of normality to family situations . In 2016 , patrol officers and counselors visited 134 repeat domestic violence locations and made contact with 104 victims . Before the home visits , these locations experienced 907 calls for service ; after the visits , the calls were reduced to 112 calls for service resulting in an 88 % reduction .

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Annual Report 2016