Detective Bureau

100 West First Street
Room 637
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-486-7000

The Technical Investigation Division (TID) is responsible for the collection, comparison and interpretation of specific types of evidence found at crime scenes or collected from suspects and victims. It is comprised of the Polygraph, Latent Print, Photography, and Electronics units.

The Forensic Science Division (FSD) SID is responsible for the collection, comparison and interpretation of specific types of physical evidence found at crime scenes or collected from suspects and victims. It is comprised of the following units: Questioned Documents, Serology/DNA, Trace Analysis, Firearms Analysis, Field Investigation, Quality Assurance, Toxicology, and Narcotics Analysis.

Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD) is responsible for investigating select homicides, bank robberies, serial robberies, extortions, sexual assaults, human trafficking, kidnapping, incidents that result in injury or death to an officer, and threats against officers.

Juvenile Division (JUV) is responsible for juvenile narcotics enforcement, child abuse and child exploitation investigations, overseeing the Department's youth programs, and providing Department-wide juvenile advice, consulting, and training.

Gang and Narcotics Division (GND) is responsible for disrupting violent street gangs and the means by which they support their lifestyle, including the manufacture, transportation, sale and use of illicit drugs, and sales of firearms in the greater Los Angeles area.  GND’s enforcement efforts also focus on street-level enforcement strategies to effect a reduction in Part I crimes, thereby resolving community problems and facilitating uniformed officers’ involvement in narcotics and gang enforcement.  GND coordinates in 15 task forces and/or memoranda of understanding/agreement with the following agencies:  U.S. Postal Service, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Los Angeles Intra-Agency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT), U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Under the Chief of Detectives, Detective Bureau (DB) provides functional leadership for detective operations Citywide, which accounts for approximately 1600 assigned detectives.  This includes the 21 geographic detective commands throughout the City and all specialized detective functions.  DB provides line supervision over the following commands assigned to DB: Commercial Crimes, Detective Support and Vice Division, Gang and Narcotics Division, Juvenile Division, Robbery-Homicide Division, Forensic Science Division and Technical Investigation Division. The Investigative Analysis Section (IAS) of DB is responsible for researching, developing and implementing improvements in investigative techniques and procedures, used by investigative officers.  IAS also provides administrative and technical support to DB.

Commercial Crimes Division (CCD) can be categorized into two main areas of investigation.  The Burglary/Auto Theft Sections provide logistical, technical and investigative support to Area detectives, and have primary investigative responsibility on certain select burglary, theft, auto theft and robbery crimes on a Citywide basis.  In addition, these sections are responsible for enforcing state law and Police Commission rules and regulations governing pawnshops, junk dealers and any other business handling secondhand merchandise.  The Financial Crimes sections are tasked with the citywide investigative responsibility for all forgery and fraud related white-collar crimes.

Detective Support and Vice Division (DSVD) is responsible for investigating missing persons, hate crimes, threats made to public officials/prominent persons, aggravated stalking, piracy and counterfeit sales/goods, animal cruelty, pimping/pandering, pornography, and prostitution/human trafficking.  

In an effort to combat the growing problem of domestic sex trafficking of children in the United States, DSVD partners with the Innocence Lost Task Force, a multi-agency operation that includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Detective Support and Vice Division also enforces Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws, provides education, and addresses community concerns.  The various sections within DSVD also respond to contacts with persons suspected of suffering from mental illness and barricaded suspect incidents.  Additionally, DSVD staffs the liaison units at the Traffic Court (1945 S. Hill Street) and the District and City Attorney’s Offices at the Criminal Courts Building (210 W. Temple Street).