Yonkers, New York

 

Detective Division - 104 South Broadway Yonkers, NY

	Yonkers Police Detective Division
	104 So Broadway, Yonkers, New York
	Phone:914-377-7724  Fax:914-377-7248

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Commanding Officer Detective Captain William Cave
Detective Lieutenant Barrett - Executive Officer 
Detective Lieutenant Cleary - Major Case Unit
Detective Sergeant Fabrizio - Burglary Unit
Detective Sergeant Pietropalo - Criminal Identification Unit
Detective Sergeant Tighe - Narcotics Unit
Detective Sergeant Novak - General Assignment
Detective Sergeant Rinaldi - General Assignment
Detective Sergeant Scully - General Assignment

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Detective Captain William Cave

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The Yonkers Police Detective Division consists of the following mutually dependent units: Three General Assignments Squads, a Criminal Identification Unit, and a Forensic Science Laboratory. Also included with Detective Division are four specialized investigative units Narcotics, Forgery Fraud, Cold Case, Special Investigations Unit and the Technical/Computer Crimes Unit.

This division is mandated to review all felony cases whether initiated by Detective or Patrol Personnel, furthermore the division provides case enhancement and technical support to all units of our department. This is accomplished via the formulation of sworn statement and obtaining Court Orders including Search Warrants as well as by providing Crime Scene processing and Forensic Examination of Evidence.

The Detective Division investigated 1,285 cases during 2003. These cases ran the gamut from non-criminal investigations to violent felonies including fifteen homicides of which eleven were cleared.

Special Units and New Initiatives

The Narcotics Unit conducted 184 investigations in 2003, which resulted in prosecuting 134 defendants. These cases arose from long term investigations some involving outside police agencies observed sales, buy and bust operations and undercover operations.

During 2003, the Narcotics Unit seized $52,866 in cash, 356 lbs. of marijuana, 2,000 Ecstasy pills, 246 grams of Crystal methadone, 13.674 lbs. of heroin, 289 lbs. of cocaine and four autos.

The Forgery-Fraud Unit conducted 16 investigations in 2003 of which 11 were cleared. The Forgery Fraud Unit in continuing to make contacts within the banking and business community, as well as various police agencies. These contacts will assist in the identification and apprehension of those responsible for committing forgeries and frauds within the City of Yonkers.

The Cold Case Squad is mandated “is to review and reinvestigate unsolved homicides which have occurred in our city”. Currently thirteen unsolved homicides are under review and are in various stages of the investigative process.

The Technical/Computer Crime Unit supports the Police Department in conducting investigation of a technical nature. In 2003 the unit installed and maintained surveillance cameras and video recording equipment. The technical unit also conducts surveillances via a recently purchased high tech surveillance van.

The Technical/Computer Unit also conducts investigations of crimes involving computers and the internet. Twelve such investigations have resulted in multiple arrests.

The Technical/Computer Unit is also responsible for processing Video Surveillance tapes for both Detective and Patrol personnel, and preparing video evidence for court presentation.

The Division has also detailed a detective to the Westchester County CAIT Team (Child Abuse Investigative Team). Whose mandate is to investigate allegations of Child Abuse throughout Westchester County.

Criminal Identification Unit - Detective Sergeant Pietropalo

The CIU is a multi-service composed of several different sections having the following responsibilities: latent print identification, the examination of crime scenes for physical evidence, the development of photographic negatives and enlargements, and maintenance of criminal records. The content and complexity of the unit’s responsibilities have changed drastically over the past quarter century. About twenty-five years ago, with a staff of seven, less than fifty scenes per year were processed for photographs and fingerprints by the CIU. During the year, fifteen hundred crime scenes were examined for physical evidence. Also, there was a major increase in the number of photographs developed compared to the previous year (over 10,000 v. 6,000).

The Police Department, recognizing the significance of crime scene examinations and fingerprint identification, made vital improvements to the operation of the unit during the past year. CIU performs the following services:

1. Photographic development of crime scenes, the unit operates a fully operational B&W and color darkroom for the purpose of providing photographic enhancements for the Detectives, Courts, etc.

2. Interacts with Detectives, and patrol officers in the detection of evidence at crime scenes.

3. Preparation of sketches and other court exhibits for investigators, prosecutors, and the courts.

4. Use of a tunable light source for the fine control of illumination wavelength to detect trace evidence like fibers, semen, etc.

5. Courtroom testimony regarding all evidence and findings as expert witnesses.

6. The maintenance and updating of local criminal records, Police Officer gun registrations, and fingerprint files. Criminal record checks are conducted for local investigations, licenses (e.g. school bus, tow trucks, taxis) other governmental agencies, and employment applications.

7. The operation of a digital mug shot system, called the “Printrack” which provides mug shots, and six pack photo arrays for the department and any other authorized law enforcement agency.

Forensic Science Laboratory

The Forensic Science Laboratory provides a variety of services which include:
• The qualitative (identification) and quantitative analysis (purity) of controlled substances.
• The development of latent fingerprints using a variety of physical and chemical methods.
• The examination of impression evidence including footwear and tire tracks.
• The restoration of obliterated serial numbers on firearms and metallic objects.
• Physical match comparisons involving fractures of glass, plastic, metal, etc.
• The creation of exhibits in the form of crime scene sketches and comparison charts for court presentations.
• Forensic photograph using visible, ultraviolet, and infrared illumination.

The Laboratory is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB) and the State of New York Commission of Forensic Science. Accreditation requires strict guidelines with respect to handling and processing evidence as well as maintaining quality standards while performing laboratory analysis.
Some members of the staff participate in the voluntary certification program administered by the American Board of Criminalistics.

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