Springdale Police Department Investigative Bureau Report
Mission and Goals: The Investigative Unit is a dedicated professional entity within the ranks of the Springdale Police Department. The mission statement of the Springdale Police Department guides us in our daily tasks. Our mission states,” The mission of the Springdale Police Department through its interactions with the community is to promote public safety by maintaining a professional law enforcement organization….To protect the persons and property of the citizens, and pursue the criminals that commit offenses in the City of Springdale. The goals of the Investigative Bureau include placing a greater emphasis on drug enforcement and crimes relating to drug abuse. To strengthen the department’s response to organized criminal activity involving fraud and theft against the business community. To be ever vigilant in our role as it relates to Homeland Security. To work cooperatively with other governmental agencies. To respond promptly to all assigned cases. To improve our response to juvenile issues in an effort to identify and assist juveniles at risk of entering the criminal justice system. I feel that the Investigative Bureau met its assigned tasks as illustrated throughout this report.
Personnel: In 2006 the Investigative Bureau consisted of one Lieutenant, four investigators, and one investigator assigned to the Drug Abuse Reduction Taskforce (DART). Detective Joe Warren was assigned to full-time duties as the department’s juvenile investigator. Investigator Warren conducted 63 proactive visits or contacts with “at risk” youth and their families. This full-time juvenile investigator supports the unit’s goal of being responsive to juvenile issues. The commitment of the department to maintain a full-time presence in DART supports the Investigative Bureau’s goal as it relates to drug enforcement. Agent Dreyer served as the Assistant Field Commander in DART throughout most of 2006. An attached report from Agent Dreyer highlights the complaints that DART worked.
Activity: The Investigative Bureau was assigned 431 cases in 2006. The unit closed 267 cases for a closure rate of 62%. The unit made 202 arrests and executed 44 search warrants in 2006. Investigators attended court 183 times in 2006 and attended 184 hours of training.
Seventy-six crime scenes were processed by investigators in 2006. The investigative unit obtained items for DNA testing, fingerprinting, shoe prints, video evidence, the forensic examination of computer equipment, and other forensic exams. These statistics and efforts help illustrate our desire to pursue the criminals that commit crimes in the City of Springdale.
The Investigative Bureau conducted pre-employment Certified Voice Stress Analysis tests (CVSA’s, commonly referred to as “lie detector tests”) for both police and fire candidates. Pre-employment background investigations for police and fire candidates were also coordinated through the Investigative Bureau. These background investigations and CVSA’s are crucial to the City of Springdale hiring quality personnel. They are also time consuming tasks for the investigators. The auxiliary officers within the department were of great benefit in assisting with the background investigations.
The Investigative Bureau maintains many links with other law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and retail merchants in order to share information, provide investigative leads, and develop cooperative relationships. Investigators attended meetings of the Fraud Investigators Association (FIA), The Terrorism Early Warning Group (TEWG), and other ad-hoc meetings for specific cases. For example, the investigative unit coordinated a regional effort to identify the suspects behind a series of burglaries at stores where electronics are sold. These meetings develop the cooperation with other governmental agencies that fulfills one of our goals.
Major Cases Investigated: Detective Dale Morris investigated a series of fraud involving ATM deposits at numerous financial institutions within Hamilton County, Ohio. This case ended up with 30 people charged with numerous counts of theft, forgery, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. The loss to the financial institutions was over $180,000. This case was recognized at the annual meeting of the Fraud Investigators Association (FIA).
Detective French worked on a case involving a defendant who fraudulently advertised as a photographer looking for models to place into ads for retail merchants. This person would meet the models at hotels and get them intoxicated on alcoholic beverages (He would state the drinking was part of a potential ad campaign for liquor manufacturers). The defendant would then photograph and sexually assault the models. Detective French served multiple search warrants for computer records as well as at the defendant’s home. The defendant was charged and indicted in Hamilton County with sex offenses. He pled out and was registered as a sex offender.
Detective Grindle worked with a multi-agency task force set up to target a large organized retail theft organization operating out of the Dayton, Ohio area. This investigation involved numerous hours of surveillance, the use of confidential informants and undercover law enforcement officers, and the service of eleven search warrants. One of the “shoplifters” involved admitted to being responsible for the theft of approximately $500,000 of merchandise a year. Several businesses in the Dayton, Ohio area were investigated for the fencing of stolen property. This investigation is ongoing and had expanded to take in the theft and fencing of numerous stolen boats.
Lt. Mathis investigated a series of home invasion robberies of elderly citizens that seemed to center on the victims shopping at the Lo-Bills on Northland Boulevard. Surveillance by the investigative unit resulted in the arrest of a defendant. He has been charged and indicted on multiple felonies involving three incidents that occurred throughout Hamilton County.
Trends: “Long-distance” crime is becoming a problem within the City of Springdale. This type of crime involves fraudulent telephone solicitations, fraudulent mail solicitations, fraudulent computer solicitations (“Phishing”), and other forms of credit card fraud and identity theft. These crimes increasingly involve criminals who are out of state (or many times out of the country) committing their offenses. This makes investigating the crime, locating witnesses and suspects, and prosecuting the offenses extremely difficult or impossible.
Organized criminal activity is being seen and identified more and more. Individuals and groups of suspects are becoming involved in increasingly more complex, and lucrative, fraud schemes. These investigations typically become multi-jurisdictional and require significant time and resources to solve.
There seems to be a continuing trend amongst witnesses and victims to not get involved or cooperate with law enforcement. In several very serious cases investigators received very little cooperation from practically any of the witnesses. Investigators now spend significant amounts of time just convincing people to speak to them and appear in court. It is not uncommon for the complainants themselves to be uncooperative or difficult to reach. Witnesses are increasingly afraid to appear in court. This creates frustration on the part of detectives and makes successful prosecutions difficult.
The influx of Hispanic/Latino immigrants into our community has presented unique investigative challenges. The most obvious is the language barrier facing our investigators. Many of these immigrants are in the country illegally. They are transient in their living and employment arrangements. Many have fake identification to enable them to drive, work, or rent living space. These factors make locating and identifying witnesses, victims, and suspects difficult. These immigrants have become the target of increasingly violent crimes within our community. The Springdale Police have subscribed to a language service where interpreters can be utilized over the phone or in person. The department continues to train members in the Spanish language.
Counterfeiting of checks and U.S. Currency is on the rise. Technology has made it easier to use color copiers, scanners, printers, and computers to duplicate checks and US currency. The costs for these items have become more affordable as technology spreads. This has made it practical for “street” level criminals to commit this type of fraud.
These trends are not unnoticed by the police administration and we will continue to work at finding solutions to these and other challenges in 2007. The men and women of the Springdale Police Department stay dedicated to providing quality and professional police services to the citizens and visitors to the City of Springdale.
DART 2006 Report Summary
In 2006, DART Agents worked a total of 244 complaints of which 171 arrests were made. Of these 171 arrests, a total of 308 charges were filed against the suspects. 44 search warrants were executed and 33 weapons were taken off the streets. Agents also seized $100,341.00 in U.S. Currency.
The following is the breakdown for 2006 regarding the monetary equivalent of drugs taken off the street by DART:
Marijuana: $486,640.00
Marijuana plants: $1,450.00
Crack: $9,530.00
Cocaine: $560,330.00
Heroin: $59,805.00
Ecstasy/MDMA: $2,100.00
Methamphetamine: $7,712.50
Mushrooms: $170.00
Other Pharmaceuticals: $2,000.00
For the City of Springdale, Agents worked 33 cases, arrested 24 people, and executed 8 search warrants.
A few examples of some of the cases worked in Springdale are as follows:
1) Agents, investigating illegal drug activity at various Springdale hotels, uncovered a multi-state cocaine trafficking ring. 4 adults were arrested, a total of 22 ˝ kilograms (45 pounds) of cocaine, 2 guns, and $46, 695.00 in U.S. Currency was recovered. The investigation is currently ongoing.
2) Agents executed a search warrant at a residence around the Cameron Road area that had received more complaints from neighbors than any previous. 1 adult was arrested and there have been no more complaints from the neighbors.
3) Agents investigating a complaint at Tri-County Mall arrested 4 adults, recovered 3.0 grams of heroin, 1 stolen vehicle, and 2 guns.
4) Agents, acting on a tip of possible drug sales at a Springdale hotel and following an investigation, stopped several suspects as they were leaving the hotel room and subsequently executed a search of the room. 3 adults were arrested, 1,276.8 grams of marijuana, 14.2 grams of cocaine, 7.3 grams of crack, and $3,606.00 in U.S. Currency was recovered.
5) Agents executed a search warrant on a residence around the Grandin Road area after complaints about illegal drug activity. 2 adults were arrested, and the case has developed into a larger drug distribution ring stemming from neighboring communities.