Sheriff's Department

Online Services

Investigative Division

Phone: (616) 632-6125
Fax: (616) 632-6154

Silent Observer: (616) 774-2345

The Kent County Sheriff�s Department Investigative Division is committed to the highest standards of crime solving, criminal apprehension, and the successful prosecution of those responsible for violating the criminal statutes of the State of Michigan. To accomplish these standards, our Division must select and train the most motivated and skillful of individuals. Competent investigators are required to understand complex laws, proper police procedure, interviewing and interrogation techniques, communication and computer skills, along with the knowledge of appropriate processes for the collection of forensic evidence. We are committed to working with all available resources so that the quality of life, safety, and security of our community can be enhanced.

Division Makeup

The Investigative Division is comprised of investigators assigned to various units. Refer to Table 2 for staffing levels by unit assignment and description of cases.

Table 1 (Supervision)

Supervision for various units within the Investigative Division is divided between the Division Commander (captain), two lieutenants, and four first line supervisors (sergeants).

Supervisor Number Of
Personnel Assigned Responsibilities

Division Commander
(Captain) 1 Responsible for the overall operations of the division.

Lieutenants 2 One Lieutenant oversees three sergeants and detectives assigned to General Case, Family Services, Major Case Team, Burglary Theft Unit, and is the public contact for internal affair complaints.

One Lieutenant oversees one sergeant and detectives assigned to the Cold Case Team, Vice Unit, and administers Polygraph Examinations for area police agencies and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. The polygraph is used to streamline investigations and prevent costly trials by facilitating pleas. Law enforcement has a statutory requirement to provide a polygraph examination to any person alleged to have committed a sex related crime.

Sergeants 4 One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to the Major Case Team, Burglary Theft Unit, and Cold Case Team.

One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to General Case, and the Financial Transaction Team.

One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to Family Services and Warrants.

One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to KANET, DEA, and MET.

Supervisor	Number Of Personnel Assigned	Responsibilities
Division Commander (Captain)	1	Responsible for the overall operations of the division.
Lieutenants	2	One Lieutenant oversees three sergeants and detectives assigned to General Case, Family Services, Major Case Team, Burglary Theft Unit, and is the public contact for internal affair complaints. One Lieutenant oversees one sergeant and detectives assigned to the Cold Case Team, Vice Unit, and administers Polygraph Examinations for area police agencies and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. The polygraph is used to streamline investigations and prevent costly trials by facilitating pleas. Law enforcement has a statutory requirement to provide a polygraph examination to any person alleged to have committed a sex related crime.
Sergeants	4	One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to the Major Case Team, Burglary Theft Unit, and Cold Case Team. One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to General Case, and the Financial Transaction Team. One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to Family Services and Warrants. One Sergeant is the first line supervisor over detectives assigned to KANET, DEA, and MET.

Table 2 (staffing levels by unit assignment and description of cases assigned to these various units)

Unit Name	Number Of Detectives Assigned	Description Of Cases Generally Assigned
Major Case (violent crimes)	4	Homicide, arson resulting in serious injury or death, aggravated/felonious assaults resulting in serious injury, missing persons under suspicious circumstances, suicide, suspicious death, kidnapping/abduction (excluding parental kidnapping), armed/unarmed robbery, and sexual assaults involving adult victims.
General Case (property crimes)	4	Property crimes such as destruction of property, embezzlement, vulnerable adult crimes, and frauds.
Family Services	6	Two detectives assigned to the Children’s Assessment Center responsible for investigating sexual abuse cases of children under 17 years old. Two detectives assigned to investigate crimes involving juveniles. Two detectives assigned to investigate domestic violence, Personal Protection Order (PPO) violations, and all misdemeanor warrant requests generated at the patrol level.
Burglary Theft Unit	2	Responsible for investigating home invasions, and business breaking and enterings.
Financial Transaction Team	1	Responsible for assisting this multi-jurisdictional task force in investigating check law violations, identity theft, and credit card frauds.
Cold Case	2	Responsible for assisting this multi-jurisdictional task force in investigating cold cases.
Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KNET)	3	Primary responsibilities are narcotic investigations. Additional investigations may include gambling, prostitution, and alcohol violations.
Metropolitan Enforcement Team (MET)	1	Responsible for assisting this multi-jurisdictional State narcotic team in investigating conspiracy level narcotic violations impacting Kent County.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)	1	Responsible for assisting the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration in investigating narcotic law violations impacting Kent County from any location in the world.
*The Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KANET) is composed of detectives from the Kent County Sheriff Department, Grandville Police Department, and the Walker Police Department. KANET investigates vice related crimes including drugs, gambling, prostitution, and alcohol violations. The origins of these investigations are primarily from citizen complaints, Silent Observer tips, road patrol incidents, and informants. Any proceeds that are associated with narcotic criminal activity are seized and given due process within the court system. Those assets which are ultimately ordered forfeited, are used in accordance with state law, which primarily enhances and supports narcotics enforcement. KANET has a drug dog that is trained to search out suspected hiding places for drugs.

Unit Name

Number Of
Detectives Assigned

Description Of Cases Generally Assigned

Major Case
(violent crimes)

Homicide, arson resulting in serious injury or death, aggravated/felonious assaults resulting in serious injury, missing persons under suspicious circumstances, suicide, suspicious death, kidnapping/abduction (excluding parental kidnapping), armed/unarmed robbery, and sexual assaults involving adult victims.

General Case
(property crimes)

Property crimes such as destruction of property, embezzlement, vulnerable adult crimes, and frauds.

Family Services

Two detectives assigned to the Children’s Assessment Center responsible for investigating sexual abuse cases of children under 17 years old.

Two detectives assigned to investigate crimes involving juveniles.

Two detectives assigned to investigate domestic violence, Personal Protection Order (PPO) violations, and all misdemeanor warrant requests generated at the patrol level.

Burglary Theft Unit

Responsible for investigating home invasions, and business breaking and enterings.

Financial Transaction Team

Responsible for assisting this multi-jurisdictional task force in investigating check law violations, identity theft, and credit card frauds.

Cold Case

Responsible for assisting this multi-jurisdictional task force in investigating cold cases.

Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KNET)

Primary responsibilities are narcotic investigations. Additional investigations may include gambling, prostitution, and alcohol violations.

Metropolitan Enforcement Team (MET)

Responsible for assisting this multi-jurisdictional State narcotic team in investigating conspiracy level narcotic violations impacting Kent County.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Responsible for assisting the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration in investigating narcotic law violations impacting Kent County from any location in the world.

*The Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KANET) is composed of detectives from the Kent County Sheriff Department, Grandville Police Department, and the Walker Police Department. KANET investigates vice related crimes including drugs, gambling, prostitution, and alcohol violations. The origins of these investigations are primarily from citizen complaints, Silent Observer tips, road patrol incidents, and informants. Any proceeds that are associated with narcotic criminal activity are seized and given due process within the court system. Those assets which are ultimately ordered forfeited, are used in accordance with state law, which primarily enhances and supports narcotics enforcement. KANET has a drug dog that is trained to search out suspected hiding places for drugs.