Criminal Investigations Section

The Investigative Section provides the Bartow Police Department with professional and skilled detectives and is under the direction of Sargent Toni Strickland.

The Investigations Section includes five detectives and a Sergeant. Detectives are responsible for follow-up on all felony crimes and narcotic investigations and includes the following:

• Crimes Against Persons
• Exploitation of the Elderly
• Rape
• Robbery
• Homicide
• Child Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Missing persons/runaways
• Intelligence gathering and distribution
  • Gangs
  • Career Criminals

The Crime Scene Unit also operates under the Investigations Section.

Crime Scene Unit / Property and Evidence

The Crime Scene Unit responds to various crime scenes that require the collection and preservation of evidence. This Unit also processes evidence and transports evidence for more technical processing to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Lab.

The Property and Evidence Section responsibilities:

• Receive all incoming property
• Store the evidence properly
• Preserve its condition
• Maintain it securely
• Prevent tampering
• Lawfully release or disposal of the property
• Maintain written and computer documentation, that is sufficiently accurate and complete to satisfy any court which has reason to examine the process.

The ultimate goal for the Property/Evidence Unit is the appropriate disposition of property, whether in compliance with court order, through release to its rightful owner, or through other legal means such as destruction, diversion, or donation. The Property/Evidence Unit researches the disposition of cases, and then sends the appropriate form to the investigating officer and/or State Attorney for permission to dispose of property.

Certain items of evidence require additional security precautions because of their very nature. All property and evidence are maintained in the property room.

To find out how to claim your property, please go to Property & Evidence.