CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION

• Investigations
• Special Projects
• Crime Analysis
• D.A.R.E.
• College Intern/Work Study Unit
• Psychological Services

Investigations

Investigating crime represents the most obvious responsibility of the Criminal Investigations unit. Investigators (Detectives) generally specialize in areas such as major crimes, property crimes, personal crimes, juvenile and sex crimes, and white collar crimes (frauds, forgeries, and counterfeiting).

In order to become an investigator, an officer will: have at least two years of patrol experience with the Stillwater Police Department; come highly recommended from their immediate supervisor; and undergo an extensive selection process. Once assigned to CID, specialized training begins within the investigator's particular area of specialty. After regional training is completed, more specialized training is sought. Currently, our investigators have received training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Georgia; University of Louisville, Knoxville, Tennessee; The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, Quantico, Virginia, just to name a few.

 
Depending on their assignment, most investigators carry a continuous "case load" of about thirty cases. As cases are solved, additional cases are assigned. The CID supervisor will assign cases depending on their significance and solvability factors. For example a suspicious person case would normally not be assigned to an investigator. If, however, the suspicious person incident occured in a high burglary area, the case is given to a property crimes investigator. If the suspicious person incident occured near a recent rape, the sex crimes investigator would receive the case.

Solvability factors include those leads which help investigators solve the case. Examples include names or descriptions of suspects, serial numbers or identifying marks on stolen property, or witnesses to the crime. Therefore, a minor theft is more likely to be assigned for follow-up investigation if it has a number of leads than the theft of a more expensive item with no leads to follow-up.

Assignment as a Stillwater Police Investigator is an 'assignment' only, not a rank. Investigators sometimes spend a few years in CID then transfer to another unit of the Department. It is not like on TV; officers generally either love or hate the assignment. CID offers officers the opportunity to take a case and follow it to the end. It also allows investigators the opportunity to experience the cutting edge of investigative techniques. We offer anyone the opportunity to stop by and visit. Or, call our anonymous tip number 742-8327 with information concerning criminal activity.

If you would like more information regarding the various programs and functions provided by CID, please contact:

Lt. Mike Metcalf
Stillwater Police Department
P.O. Box 1725
Stillwater, Oklahoma  74076
(405) 742-8286, or email to: MMetcalf@Stillwater.org