HOMICIDE UNIT --

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Homicide unit consists of 8 hand picked deputy sheriffs, a sergeant and a lieutenant. The unit is responsible for the investigation of all homicides and violent crimes against persons. Including kidnapping, stalking, assaults with deadly weapons, terrorist threats, weapons violations, jail escapes, jail deaths, jail assaults, missing persons, all officer involved shootings, and assists to other agencies with homicide or violent crimes investigations when requested. 

The detectives are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Generally every homicide will involve at least 3 of the detectives and occasionally the whole team. When not out contacting victims, witnesses, or suspects the detectives are preparing cases for court.

The unit also is responsible for the investigation of over 260 “cold cases”. A cold case is an old homicide case that has not been closed. Some of those cases go back more than 35 years.

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SEX CRIMES / CHILD ABUSE --

The Sex Crimes Unit consists of four Deputy Sheriff Detectives. It specializes in investigations of rapes, sexual abuse crimes, child sexual abuse cases, child sex rings, child exploitation and other child victim cases where special investigative skills are appropriate. The Unit provides liaison with Child Protective Services and is an integral part of the Children's Network for our County.

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE --

The Domestic Violence Unit consists of four Deputy Sheriff Detectives, one Community Service Officer and two victims’ advocates assigned full time to the investigation of domestic violence crimes. This unit investigates crimes of abuse committed against an adult or fully emancipated minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship.

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PC 290 SEX REGISTRATION --

This Unit consists of two Deputy Sheriff Detectives who are assigned exclusively to the tracking of registered sexual offenders. These detectives work in conjunction with the Patrol Areas OSS, (Operations Safe Streets), deputies in the field, the U.S. Marshall’s Task force, DOJ (Department of Justice), Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, State Parole, the California Department of Corrections and other Police and Sheriff’s Offices. These officers actively serve arrest warrants and monitor these sex registrants to make certain they comply with the laws that allow them to remain out of prison. The deputies also make notifications to neighborhoods and communities when a registered sex offender moves in. The various agencies in conjunction with the department’s PC 290 deputy continue to be active in "PC 290 Sweeps" throughout the county, arresting violators of the sex registration laws. Technology has played an important role in helping the citizens protect themselves against sex offenders. The new Megan's Law Website is available online. This site will provide you with access to information on more than 63,000 persons required to register in California as sex offenders. Specific home addresses are displayed on more than 33,500 offenders in the California communities; as to these persons, the site displays the last registered address reported by the offender. An additional 30,500 offenders are included on the site with listing by ZIP Code, city, and county. Information on approximately 22,000 other offenders is not included on this site, but is known to law enforcement personnel.

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ELDER ABUSE --

The Elder Abuse Unit consists of three Deputy Sheriff Detectives assigned full time to the investigation of crimes against elderly persons, and one assigned to training and education of local law enforcement and community in Elder Abuse. These deputies actively investigate crimes where elderly persons or dependent adults have suffered pain, other types of suffering, or injury or where there has been theft or embezzlement by a caretaker. Specifically where there have been violations of Penal Code Section 368, which is the elder abuse section. As defined by the Penal Code, elder abuse can occur to someone over the age of 65. Criminal penalty enhancements can sometimes be brought against a perpetrator if the victim is over the age of 70.

TYPES OF ELDER ABUSE:

• Physical abuse includes assault, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, unreasonable physical constraint, prolonged or continual deprivation of food or water, sexual assault and rape.

• Emotional abuse includes fear, agitation, confusion, severe depression and other forms of serious emotional distress that are brought about by threats, harassment and intimidation.

• Financial abuse can result from taking, secreting or appropriating money or property of an elder or dependent adult by a person who has the care or custody of, or who is in a position of trust to, that elder or dependent adult.

• Negligence occurs if a caregiver fails to assist the elder or dependent adult in personal hygiene; provide food, clothing or shelter; protect from health and safety hazards; or prevent malnutrition or dehydration.

• The Elder Abuse Unit Deputy works with other county agencies, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Fresno Madera Area Agency on Aging (FMAAA) to make certain that the latest developments in the law, policy and investigative techniques are used to arrest and prosecute offenders.

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