Detectives assigned to Hampton Police Division's Crimes Against Persons Unit (CAP) are responsible for investigating serious violent felonies such as: homicides, maimings, robberies, abductions, and sexual offenses. The CAP Unit also investigates domestic violence complaints, violent assault and battery complaints and suspicious deaths. In addition, the CAP Unit investigates missing persons and runaways.
The men and women assigned to this Unit are experienced police investigators, who receive specialized training in a variety of disciplines including: death investigations, interviewing techniques, domestic violence and forensic science.
The Crimes Against Persons Unit consists of a Lieutenant, 3 Sergeants, 14 Detectives and 1 Patrol Investigator. Although CAP detectives have their own unique investigative specialties, each member of the CAP unit is capable of investigating any type of criminal investigation assigned to them. The CAP Unit is divided into 6 sections: Child Abuse/Sexual Assault, Cold Case Homicide, Domestic Violence/Runaways/Missing Persons, Violent Crimes, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Robbery, and the Gang Intelligence Unit.
The Crimes Against Persons Unit combats crime by conducting prompt and thorough investigations. Detectives maximize the use of all available technological resources and traditional investigative techniques to solve crimes, locate and apprehend suspects. They are also charged with locating missing persons and runaways.
Cases are assigned to detectives based on the nature of crime and detective's caseload. Once a case is assigned to a detective, they are responsible for ensuring that a comprehensive and thorough investigation is conducted. Throughout the course of an investigation, detectives maintain contact with victims and witnesses to ensure that cases are successfully prosecuted.
Criminals kow no jurisdictional boundaries. For this reason, the Crimes Against Persons Unit works closely with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of crimes committed against individuals are identified and ultimately prosecuted in the appropriate criminal justice system.
The Gang Intelligence Unit is tasked with investigating, and the enforcement, of crimes involving street gangs: such as, gang participation and recruitment, hazing, witness intimidation, maiming and vandalism. The Unit also assists the Crimes Against Property Unit and Crimes Against Persons Unit with investigations involving gang members and gang violence. The Unit maintains an ongoing gang database, which serves as an intelligence resource for sworn Police personnel. The Gang Intelligence Unit also makes educational presentations to civic groups, neighborhoods and other agencies, within the City of Hampton.
The Crime Scene Unit is also assigned to the Crimes Against Persons Unit. They are responsible for the identification, collection, preservation, and processing of physical evidence from crime scenes. They also work closely with Investigative Services, Uniform Patrol, and outside agencies to ensure that vital evidence collected at crime scenes can be properly utilized for evidentiary purposes. The Crime Scene Unit has one (1) Sergeant and ten (10) civilian forensic specialists.