Criminal Investigations Division

Major Gordon Abraham
Investigations Division Commander


The Investigations Division was reorganized in 2002 to improve coordination of service delivery and communications in all investigations of major cases. In addition to general assignment detectives, officers are also assigned to the Metro Meth Task Force, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Unit, the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force, the DEA Task Force, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

General Assignment Investigations
Detectives are assigned to investigate cases according to an evaluation system based on solvability factors. Crimes against persons, crimes against property, sex crimes, domestic violence, auto thefts, arsons, and explosive ordnance violations are investigated by these officers.
In 2002, general assignment investigators:

• Investigated 3,750 crimes, including six homicides;
• Solved 2,724 crimes for a clearance rate of 73%;
• Investigated 1,749 domestic violence abuse cases. There are four detectives who are wholly or partly funded through grants who investigate domestic violence cases.
• Conducted 73 Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) examinations for pre-employment, criminal investigations, and internal affairs purposes.
• Established an Intelligence Officer position, whereby an investigator continually networks with law enforcement agencies in the KC metro in order to provide Independence officers with timely information regarding criminal activities that have the potential to impact the Independence community.
• Specially trained investigators investigated 49 arson crimes.

Drug Enforcement Unit
This unit is staffed with detectives having the fundamental responsibility to investigate all drug complaints and violations. This is accomplished by using a variety of investigative initiatives, maximizing high profile attention to drug houses and drug offenders. Investigators follow up on all reported drug complaints received from the public, and work with neighborhood groups effectively to resolve drug-related issues.
In 2002, DEU detectives(not including the activities of detectives assigned to area task forces):

• Initiated 138 drug investigations;
• Followed up on 288 investigations initiated by Patrol Division officers;
• Conducted 200 drug searches;
• Investigated 293 suspected drug houses;
• Made 411 drug arrests and 231 "other" arrests (warrants and non drug-related crimes);
• Investigated 434 drug complaints received from citizens, most coming through the IPD drug hot-line 325-NARC;
• Made 15 controlled, street-level drug buys;
• Filed federal and state forfeitures totaling $97,744;
• Discovered and closed 41 meth labs in Independence;
• Made 107 suspicious car and pedestrian checks.

Crime Scene Unit
Members of this unit are responsible for processing major crime scenes, and gathering and preserving physical evidence to support criminal charges. They also operate a full-service forensic laboratory staffed by highly educated and certified chemists who analyze bodily fluids (such as blood and urine), chemicals, and illegal drugs. One staff member is a certified fingerprint analyst.

The Crime Scene Unit also incorporates a well-structured Property & Evidence management system that preserves evidence needed in future prosecutions. A state-of-the-art bar coding system is utilized to manage the over 18,000 pieces of property and evidence in our custody, virtually eliminating the possibility of any item becoming lost or misplaced.
In 2002:

• Forensic investigators processed 536 crime scenes;
• Completed 1,764 drug analyses for IPD and surrounding law enforcement agencies;
• Implemented complete, department-wide digital photography though the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and training;
• Created an additional forensic chemist position through grant funding.