The Arcadia Police Department Detective Bureau is comprised of 12 detectives and an Evidence Technician, and is supervised by one sergeant, and commanded by one lieutenant. The Detective Bureau is responsible for the investigation of crimes and the presentation of cases to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution. Our detectives are committed to timely and responsive follow up to crimes reported to the Department, as well as proactive investigation and enforcement within our community. The Detective Bureau is also supported by several civilian personnel to include an Administrative Assistant, a Community Services Officer, and a Cadet. Their role as support personnel is invaluable to the Detective Bureau - processing reports, clerical duties, liaison to local courts, and filing misdemeanor cases are just some of the duties performed by these members of our staff. The Detective Bureau is divided into the following areas of responsibility: Crimes Against Persons, including Sex Crimes Property Crimes Gang, Narcotics and Vice Crimes Fraud Crimes Tech Crimes Crimes Against Property, including Auto Thefts and Burglaries Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) Crime Analysis Unit
Assigning specific types of investigations to individual detectives allows our personnel to gain expertise in their particular area of responsibility. This expertise leads to more thorough and competent investigations as well as allowing the particular detective to develop professional relationships with other Law Enforcement agencies. Information exchange between detectives at agencies throughout the San Gabriel Valley greatly assists in furthering investigations and results in the arrest of many criminals. Crime tips or other information can be communicated to the Detective Bureau at (626) 574-5160 or through the Arcadia Advocacy link on the City Website here. Crimes Against Persons detectives investigate crimes such as robbery, assault, missing adults, domestic violence and homicide. These detectives also handle all crimes associated with Sex Crimes involving adults or juveniles. Our Property Crimes detectives investigate crimes involving the theft of property, residential and commercial burglary and grand theft. This detective works closely with our Property and Evidence Technician in examination of physical evidence and latent print examination in order to develop leads on cases. The Property Crimes detective is also in constant communication with our Crime Analysis Unit looking at crime trends and working to prevent crime before it happens. The Gang, Narcotic and Vice detective investigates a wide variety of crimes. Crimes associated with possible gang activity may push investigations in many different directions. This detective works with other investigators to cross reference information and expertise in order to combat gang activity and conduct competent investigations. Many narcotic related investigations come as a result of an arrest by a patrol officer. Similar to gang activity, narcotics investigations often lead to other crimes such as burglary and fraud. Vice activity is also investigated by this detective. Vice and gambling investigations may come from patrol officer arrests, tips or stings. Fraud related crime has been on the rise for the last decade. That being said, this is a busy desk with no shortage of case load. While personal information is being intercepted and stolen through conventional crimes such as mail theft and burglary, personal information is also being taken through other means. With advances in technology, thieves are using portable skimming devices, computers and other avenues to steal identity and commit crimes of fraud and theft. One of our detectives is responsible for this type of investigation. 
Similar to the rise in fraud related crime, Technology Crime has been increasing in recent years. The Internet has opened doors to new worlds of criminal activity ranging from fraud and theft, to criminal threats, sex crimes and child predators, identity theft and tampering, and others. The Department has a detective dedicated to this area of expertise and has a small forensic examination lab in use. This detective conducts investigations and exams of technology related evidence brought into our agency, but also works closely with other agencies such as the FBI. Our Traffic Detective investigates all auto related crimes to include auto theft, auto burglary, and collision investigation. This detective has received specialized training in collision investigation and reconstruction, and is called upon for expertise in any major injury or fatal traffic collisions. 
Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) The MAIT team is responsible for investigating all fatal, major injury and serious traffic collisions that occur within the City of Arcadia. This is a highly technical position that requires expertise in traffic collision cause, effect and reconstruction. Members are required to minimally complete over 240 hours of training for Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Traffic Collision Investigations before moving on to more specialized training in Collision Reconstruction, Speed Determination from Crush, Auto vs. Pedestrian / Bicycle, Railroad Grade Crossing Collisions, Commercial Vehicles and more. The MAIT team is “on-call” 24 hours a day and is sometimes requested by neighboring cities to assist with investigations. In addition to traffic collisions, the team is also frequently called upon to diagram crime scenes for other investigative sections due to their expertise in this particular field. There are currently seven members including a detective / lead investigator, three full-time regular officers and three reserve police officers. The team employs advanced technologies and equipment, including laser-based surveying total station equipment, an electronic accelerometer and advanced diagramming, analysis and animation software. From 1997 to 2007, the MAIT team investigated 31 fatal traffic collisions and averaged 7 investigations of major collisions per year. San Gabriel Valley Anit-Crime Task Force The San Gabriel Valley Anit-Crime Task Force is a regional response to criminal trends related to property crimes. Though primarily responsible for collectively combating property crimes in the region, the SGV-ACT also serves as a proactive effort by member cities in monitoring their parolee populatoins. Member cities include: Arcadia, Monrovia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, and Sierra Madre Police Departments. 
Property and Evidence The Property and Evidence Unit catalogs and tracks property that comes into the custody of the Arcadia Police Department. Items such as latent finger print cards, blood and other biological evidence, clothing, weapons, bicycles, recovered stolen property, and many other forms of property are all stored and handled in this unit. This unit also prepares and facilitates laboratory testing of evidence with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Crime Lab. Our Evidence Technician is also certified and trained in many aspects of specialized evidence collection and examination of latent finger prints. Requests for property retrieval should be made by calling the Property and Evidence Unit at (626) 574-5191 and scheduling an appointment. Release of property is governed by State law and in some cases; property must be held the entire length of a criminal or civil trial. Some property may be held for the length of an appeal period as well. Firearms seized by the Department may only be released to the registered gun owner, with a Department of Justice Clearance Letter, or a Court Order. Auctions are not held by the Arcadia Police Department. Unclaimed property is released to a private auction company for resale or otherwise destroyed. 
Vehicle Impound Hearings The Detective Bureau Commander is responsible for conducting impound hearings on vehicles stored for 30 days. If your vehicle has been impounded and held pursuant to California Vehicle Code, section 14602.6(a), you may only retrieve the vehicle under the following conditions: You are the registered owner on file with DMV Your license status is valid and you possess proof of insurance All DMV fees are current and the vehicle registration is valid The person who was cited and caused the vehicle to be impounded has now obtained a valid California driver’s license and possess proof of insurance Or, you are representing a rental car agency who owns the vehicle Court Order Refer VC 14602.6(a) for further information
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