Police investigation involves a careful process of collecting evidence and following leads to bring the right people to justice. When police investigate a crime scene, they look at the physical evidence, including weapons, blood stains, footprints, clothing fibers, fingerprints, and more. They take photographs, document their findings, and send them to labs for further testing. In many cases, a detective will interview suspects, witnesses, and victims. They may also get information from informants and engage in surveillance, though such methods are subject to strict legal limits. In some cases, police go undercover to investigate possible criminal activities and obtain information from people unaware that they are being observed.
After gathering all of the information, they build a file to present to prosecutors for formal charges or community resolutions. Police officers and detectives follow all reasonable lines of inquiry without bias in order to gather material that points both towards and away from a suspect. This process can result in a guilty verdict, out-of-court disposal, or no charge at all.
The NYPD’s Criminal Enterprise Investigative Section is a long-term investigative unit that works closely with federal, state, and local partners to prosecute large-scale criminal enterprises. The division is involved in the prosecution of organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, insurance fraud and more. It also investigates individuals who are on the fugitive list. Moreover, it operates a number of units such as the Warrant Section and Violent Felony Apprehension Squad.
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