Bureau of Detectives

Overview

The Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Detectives is dedicated to the mission of investigating and solving criminal cases to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law. The Bureau of Detectives further stands committed to thorough and timely investigations that may provide the legal system with sufficient evidence to reach a just decision. Committed to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, the bureau employs highly trained detectives who work collaboratively to gather evidence, analyze information, and identify suspects. Their focus extends across a range of crimes, including homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, and other serious offenses. The Bureau of Detectives is also responsible for certain non-criminal incidents reported to the Chicago Police Department. By employing advanced investigative techniques and fostering community partnerships, the Bureau of Detectives strives to contribute to the overall safety and well-being of the residents of Chicago.

Organizational and Functional Responsibilities

The Bureau of Detectives is commanded by a chief who reports directly to the First Deputy Superintendent. The chief is assisted by a deputy chief. The bureau is responsible for investigating felonies and misdemeanors; the administrative processing of juvenile arrests and the care of juveniles who are in need of protective services; missing and found persons; and any other incidents that may be assigned to the bureau by policy or through specific instruction of the Chief, Bureau of Detectives. The Bureau of Detectives consists of the following:

Investigative Response Team
The Investigative Response Team (IRT) is led by a detective commander who reports directly to the Chief, Bureau of Detectives. The IRT is responsible for investigating the underlying and surrounding crimes in all instances where a Department member discharges a firearm in the direction of a person and all incidences of officer-involved deaths. Additionally, the IRT will assume the investigative responsibility of incidents when an Officer is shot, regardless if the Officer discharged his/her weapon.

Youth Investigations Division
The Youth Investigations Division is led by a detective commander who reports directly to the Deputy Chief, Bureau of Detectives. The Youth Investigations Division consists of the following: Special Investigations Unit (SIU) / Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC), Criminal Registration Unit (CRU), and the Missing Persons Section.

Central Investigations Division
The Central Investigations Division is led by a detective commander who reports directly to the Deputy Chief, Bureau of Detectives. This division consists of the following: Arson Section, Financial Crimes Section, Fugitive Apprehension Section, Major Auto Theft Section, and Major Accident Investigation Section.

Forensic Services Division
The Forensic Services Division is commanded by a commander who reports directly to the Deputy Chief, Bureau of Detectives. This division provides technical and scientific expertise for the collection and analysis of physical evidence and the reconstruction of crimes. The Forensic Services Division also provides expert testimony on the collection, submission, and examination of evidence to assist in the criminal justice process. The division is also responsible for submitting evidence to the Illinois State Police Laboratory for examination. This division consists of the following: Investigative Support Section, Evidence and Recovered Property Section, The Criminal Analysis Review Section, Crime Scene Processing Unit, Forensic Services Lab Unit, and DNA Processing Unit.

Area Homicide Team
Investigating homicide cases is a principal function of the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Detectives (BOD). A loss of human life due to violence affects not only the victim, but also the victim’s family, loved ones, and the community. The BOD assigns the highest priority to identify, apprehend, and adjudicate the offenders while simultaneously ensuring that justice is served, communities feel safe, and trust is strengthened. Homicide Teams are located within each of the 5 CPD Area Detective Divisions.

Area Technology Centers (ATC)
Digital and/or video evidence serves a critical role within the Bureau of Detective’s investigative process. The preservation, recovery, security, and evidentiary chain of custody directly may affect the prosecutorial outcome of criminal investigations. Area Technology Centers (ATC) are located within the BOD and play a vital role in the use of technology to assist investigating Detectives with Homicide investigations. Although the Area Technology Centers will prioritize their investigative resources to be used for homicides and other complex criminal investigations. ATCs are available to assist all Bureau of Detectives members regardless of the crime category related to their investigation based on availability and/or need.

Family Liaison Office (FLO)
The Family Liaison Office (FLO) is a role assignment within every Chicago Police Department (CPD) Detective Division Area Homicide Section and Major Accidents Investigation Unit (MAIU), spanning all communities within the City of Chicago. The FLO member assists the family member(s) that have been impacted by a homicide incident and/or other incident resulting in a fatality. The FLO member provides practical support and timely information to impacted surviving family member(s) within the scope allowed by the Bureau of Detectives.

Homicide Investigative Support Team (HIST)
The Homicide Investigation Support Team (HIST) will provide investigative support to the Bureau of Detectives which may strengthen investigations as well as increase public safety measures. The HIST Team will work in each of the CPD Area Detective Divisions.

Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF)
Composed of detectives and officers that utilize experience, training, and knowledge to identify and investigate emerging organized retail crime patterns, identify known repeat offenders to assist the assigned CPD Area Detective Division with investigations, apprehend wanted offenders, recover stolen merchandise, and assist with parallel investigations, such as Identity Theft, Auto Theft, E-Fencing, and/ or other associated criminal enterprises.

Vehicular Hijacking Task Force
The Vehicular Hijacking Task Force (VHTF) is comprised of Chicago Police Department members and local, state, and federal law enforcement partners working together in real-time to address incidents of vehicular hijacking. The team also collaborates in real-time with the 22 Strategic Decision Support Center rooms when vehicle hijacking incidents occur to ensure the district is utilizing its resources to track and assist in the apprehension of offenders.

Chief Antoinette Ursitti

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Quick Links for the Bureau of Detectives

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I request a police report?

    Members of the general public may obtain a copy of a case report or other document containing information to substantiate a personal injury, a loss or damage to property. Such reports, except for Traffic Crash Reports, are reviewed by Department personnel prior to their release in order to remove the investigative portions and other such sensitive information.Members of the general public may initiate this process:

    1 . In person, at Central Police Headquarters,
    3510 S. Michigan, 1st Floor, Room 1043,
    with payment of applicable fees as designated below.

    2 . By mail:
    Addressed to:
    Chicago Police Department
    Records Inquiry and Customer Service Section, Unit 163
    3510 S. Michigan Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60653

    Please be sure to include the following information:

    1) The victim or reporting person’s name and address,
    2) the type of location of incident
    3) the RD number, (a report number given by the Police at the time a report is made.)
    4) accompanied by a:
    a) self-addressed stamped envelope;
    b) check or money order payable to the “Department of
    Revenue, City of Chicago” in the amount of the payment of
    the applicable fee as designated below.

    Applicable Fees
    1) .50 cents for each copy of a case report.
    2) $5.00 for each copy of a Traffic Crash Report
    3) $20.00 for a report generated by an accident reconstruction officer or
    accident reconstruction team in the case of traffic crash.

    *If a member of the general public is unsatisfied with an edited report and requests a full disclosure of the
    information contained in any official Department report, the requester will be advised to submit a request
    for such information under the Freedom of Information Act to the Manager of the Records Services Division.

    Letters of Clearance

    A Letter of Clearance is a letter that certifies whether a person has been convicted of a
    criminal offense (excluding traffic or minor regulatory ordinances). This letter is issued for passport, immigration, or adoption purposes only and cannot provide character reference or identification. Members of the general public requesting a letter of clearance must request such letters in person at the Records Services Division. Requesters can obtain these letters only for themselves, not for any other person, and will be required to present proper photo identification at the time of processing.