UNITS

Special Investigations Unit (S. I. U.):

        The Special Investigations Unit (S. I. U.) will be responsible for conducting specialized and complex investigations throughout Montgomery County.  The Special Investigations Unit will be comprised of a Detective Lieutenant and a County Detective.  As needed, additional County Detectives, Investigators, local police, County Drug Task Force members, and support staff personnel will supplement this unit and work in concert with the overall operational goals and objectives of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

Working closely with county and federal prosecutors, federal agents, state police, state and county probation and parole officers, and other law enforcement partners, the Special Investigative Unit will focus their investigative efforts toward violent and complex criminal activities throughout the county using a variety of investigative techniques, including:  joint task force initiatives, special federal prosecutions, covert surveillance operations, court ordered electronic surveillances, and the Montgomery County Investigating Grand Jury.

The SIU will handle the following sensitive and specialized criminal investigations:

• Public and Official Corruption Investigations.
• Traditional and Non-Traditional Organized Crime Investigations.
• Intelligence Gathering and Crime Analysis.
• Provide Investigative support to other County Detective Investigative Units – Homicide, Narcotics, Major Crimes.
• Conduct joint investigations with local, state, and federal investigative agencies.

• Coordinate special details to combat violent crime, as well as quality of life crimes, throughout the county utilizing members of the Districts Attorney’s County Drug Task Force.
• Conduct Special Investigations and projects as required by the District Attorney or Chief County Detective. 

In addition, the SIU will provide investigative support to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Section:  

• Firearms Team -Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Violence Initiative
• Montgomery County Investigative Grand Jury

Lt Mark Bernstiel will be assigned to supervise the SIU. Detective Steven C. Furlong is the assigned detective.

     The Phone Number 610.278.DOIT is a hotline the public can call to provide information regarding drug activity. To submit a e-mail tip click on this CRIMESTOPPER link.

CRIME SCENE UNIT

      The Crime Scene Unit performs a variety of technical investigative services. It's primary function is Crime Scene investigation at the scenes of Homicides. The Unit also responds to all Homicides by Vehicle and provides technical expertise and accident reconstructions. The Unit has a firearms/toolmark expert who provides in-house examination of all Montgomery County ballistics cases. Also, the Unit has a latent fingerprint expert and Pennsylvania State Police A.F.I.S. (automated fingerprint identification system) terminal. The Arson Fraud Unit is part of the Crime Scene Unit. This Unit provides technical investigative services at all fatal fires as well as at any confirmed or suspected Arson fires.

     In addition to the previously mentioned functions, the Unit provides assistance to the Major Crimes Unit, Narcotics and Special Services Unit. Unit personnel are also available to provide technical advice, support and assistance to local police departments in many instances. Members of the Unit include a certified firearm/toolmark examiner, a certified fingerprint examiner, a certified fire investigator, a certified senior crime scene analyst and a certified accident reconstructionist, representing almost one hundred and fifty years of law enforcement experience.

HOMICIDE UNIT

     The Homicide Unit of the Montgomery County Detective Bureau consists of six detectives and a supervisor.  The average detective in the unit has twenty-three (23) years of law enforcement experience.  All of the detectives in the unit were recruited from local police jurisdictions within Montgomery County.

     The Homicide Unit acts as a liaison between local and state police jurisdictions and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

      The Homicide Unit assists all local and state police jurisdictions in the investigation of the following cases:

      . Murder
      . Homicide
      . Homicide by motor vehicle
      . Suspicious deaths
      . Suicides
      . Shootings involving the police
      . Location of fugitives charged with murder, and other serious crimes.

MAJOR CRIMES UNIT

      The Major Crimes Unit of the Montgomery County Detective Bureau investigates any crimes which do not fall under the domain of the Homicide and Narcotics Units. The Major Crimes Unit's primary responsibility is the investigation of financial crimes, assaults both sexual and physical, rapes and the location of fugitives for out of County or state jurisdictions. This unit investigates allegations of child abuse and child pornography. Most recently, this unit has become involved in investigations where crimes are committed using the Internet. This unit also investigates any crimes that are committed at any of the County facilities. Included in the Major Crimes Unit is the investigation of Insurance Fraud. Insurance Fraud investigations include allegations of all aspects of homeowner fraud, automobile claim fraud, worker's compensation fraud, insurance agent fraud and medical provider fraud. The Major Crimes Unit is made up of a Lieutenant and six (6) Detectives.

      Further information regarding Insurance Fraud and to also submit an e-mail tip to the District Attorney's Office click on www.montcopa.org/if .

N.E.T. (Narcotics Enforcement Team)

     The Narcotics Enforcement Team is the drug enforcement arm of the District Attorney's Office. This Unit is charged with the investigation of major narcotics trafficking operations existing within the County of Montgomery. The NET Team also helps local police departments with the investigations of drug crimes.

      The assigned detectives are trained not only in the investigations of drug offenses, but also in the use of electronic surveillance equipment, photography, video and physical surveillance techniques.         

PRIVATE COMPLAINT UNIT

      The Private Complaint Unit is part of the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. This unit is staffed by a County Detective and a Private Complaint Coordinator. All complaints must be approved by an Assistant District Attorney. The unit handles a myriad of complaints from citizens throughout Montgomery County ranging from neighbor disputes to problems with public agencies.

        In addition, the Private Complaint Unit supervises the Bad Check Restitution Program.  Please click on the link below for further information concerning this program:

                                       Bad Check Restitution Program

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      This unit is composed of a Lieutenant, a Detective, six (6) investigators and two (2) secretaries. The unit is divided into the File Folder Preparation unit, the Evidence Control and Storage unit, the Private Complaint unit and the BCI unit.

      The File Folder Preparation unit prepares and processes approximately 8,400 criminal files for the District Attorney and the Assistant District Attorney's assigned to the cases. The preparation and processing entails complete criminal history checks and dispositions, preparation of witness information, Bills of Information, sentencing sheets, community service sheets, victim compensation forms and motor vehicle operator's history information.

       The Evidence Control and Storage unit processes, stores and warehouses all evidence collected and seized by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau. The unit also stores and warehouses court exhibits and evidence from other agencies when that evidence is used during criminal prosecutions. The unit maintains three (3) evidence storage rooms.

      The BCI unit processes and stores all investigative files for the Montgomery County Detective Bureau. The unit also processes and moves files to the Montgomery County Archives. The unit processes defendants arrested by the Montgomery County Detectives and other police agencies when needed. The unit houses a defendant holding area, the CLEAN/NCIC terminals, Auto Track computer system, Livescan/Ten Printer Fingerprint and Photo Imaging Systems which are linked together with the PA State Police Fingerprint (AFIS) and Photograph (CPIN) databases. 

      The Special Services Unit also assists the Montgomery County District Attorney and Assistant District Attorneys with witness and victim transportation, defendant/suspect transportation, personal service of subpoenas and witness/victim location. The unit maintains all police related equipment, electronic surveillance equipment and firearms and ammunition. Firearms training is also under the control of this unit.

  
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