Specialized Investigations
Shelley Krusbe, Captain
Address
655 East Third Street
San Bernardino, California 92415
Phone:
(909) 387-3589
The Specialized Investigations Division is comprised of the Homicide Detail, Crimes Against Children Detail and the Polygraph Detail. These details investigate a variety of major crimes including homicides, suspicious deaths, in-custody deaths, officer-involved shootings, child pornography, child abuse, and various other crimes against children. Personnel assigned to the division are highly-skilled and experienced investigators who use the latest technology to investigate and solve cases. Local law enforcement agencies can request investigators and department resources to investigate officer-involved shootings or major crimes.
The Crimes Against Children Detail specializes in the investigation of child sexual and physical abuse cases, child sex rings, child pornography, child exploitation, Internet crimes against children, abuse in which a foster family is the alleged perpetrator, abuse in which a daycare facility is the alleged perpetrator and other cases involving child victims where special investigative skills and training is needed. During the course of investigating these crimes, detectives work together with other agencies, i.e., Children and Family Services, the Children’s Fund Assessment Center, the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Community Care Licensing, Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children and the district attorney’s victim/witness program. The detail is made up of one sergeant, six detectives and one deputy sheriff. The detail is also responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing community and department goals and strategies to effectively mobilize efforts aimed at registered sex offenders and to ensure sex offender compliance. The Sheriff’s Department utilizes the Megan’s Law database. Within the Megan’s Law database, the public can search for sex offenders by name, address and city or compliance status. Megan’s Law database is a tool to ensure public safety and to create a link between law enforcement and the community. In addition to the Megan’s Law database, the Sheriff’s Department began using the California Sex and Arson Registry (CSAR) database to monitor, track and access information regarding convicted sex offenders. CSAR is utilized by law enforcement nationwide. CSAR is similar to the Megan’s Law database; however, it provides information not available in the Megan’s Law database and is used exclusively by law enforcement. In addition to conducting major child abuse investigations, members of the Crimes Against Children Detail are responsible for conducting weekly reviews of all child abuse related calls for service dispatched to each of our department’s stations. Detectives review all reports taken related to the call for service. In doing this, training issues are identified and the Crimes Against Children members are able to offer assistance as needed. The Crimes Against Children Detail spend nearly 300 hours each year conducting training for other law enforcement personnel on the proper investigative techniques to successfully prosecute crimes against children.
The Polygraph Detail has been part of the Specialized Investigations Division since 1996. As with the other details within the division, the Polygraph Detail provides support for criminal, administrative and background investigators within the department. In this role, members of the detail provide an integral and vital element to the successful investigative team concept.
Other law enforcement agencies may/and do avail themselves of the services provided by this detail. The Sheriff’s Department presently contracts with 17 different outside police and fire agencies. Other contracts are currently pending. The acquisition of state-of-the-art computerized polygraph instruments, bilingual examiners, and other personnel additions have been recently implemented in a measure to provide better service and product to law enforcement agencies throughout the region.
The function of the polygrapher is to assist an investigator in establishing the truth-telling profile of a job applicant, crime suspect, or the credibility of a witness. The polygraph can assist an investigator by giving direction on the investigation and assist in corroborating evidence and statements that may otherwise be difficult to measure. It is not intended to, nor can it replace, basic investigative techniques or evidence interpretation.