Expert: Dick Rogers - 1/14/2010

Question
I have a few questions.  I would like to know what the head of the homicide division (if it's even called a division) is called.  Is it Chief Detective?  Or Lead Investigator?  Or what exactly.  Also, if you
are head of a homicide department, do you have a partner?  Or is it more free-floating than that?

Answer
Mark, there is no cardinal rule when it comes to naming the person who heads up a homicide unit.  In Larger departments the unit usually comes under the heading of a "bureau" which in most cases in supervised by a captain or commander.  Some departments called their detectives inspectors.  Some small department may have one or two people who would be called detectives and who would initially go to the scene of a homicide and determine that one in fact occurred and in most cases call in the department (state police..sheriff) who would have a expertise and experience to deal with it.  It might be of interest for you to learn that in most large departments, the real detective work is done by detectives or detective sergeants who respond to and investigate to the point of filing the case with he DA while most lieutenants assign cases, read reports and schedule the various teams.  Except in small departments, lieutenants and above are administrators.