General Information

How will you know the status of your reported case?
All criminal cases are thoroughly reviewed. Cases are assigned based on severity, solvability, suspect information and other relevant information. Using this information, your case may or may not be assigned for further investigation. If your case is assigned, the member assigned to investigate your case will contact you within a short time. However, even after being investigated, not all cases are found appropriate to be examined by the District Attorney’s Office.

What will happen if your case is assigned?
You as well as all the other parties involved in the case will be contacted. The Detective/Investigative Assistant assigned to your case will need to interview everyone involved. The evidence will be examined and evaluated by the appropriate resources, which may involve extended lengths of time. Information will be gathered to identify the correct suspect. Detectives/Investigative Assistants will attempt to locate any additional witnesses, and they will also review other cases to determine if your case is part of a pattern or series of other crimes by the same parties.

Who to contact if you have questions or additional information?
If a Detective/Investigative Assistant has contacted you, please contact that member directly at the number they have provided you. If you have not been contacted, please feel free to contact one of our administrative staff at the Investigations general number (760) 435-4580.

What happens after the investigation is complete?
If the Detective/Investigative Assistant is able to identify a suspect and establish that the suspect(s) committed the offense, an attempt will be made to arrest the suspect, or the completed case will be forwarded to the appropriate unit of the District Attorney’s Office for review. This can result in a warrant for the suspect(s) arrest being issued or no charges being filed due to a lack of evidence. You will be notified after the suspect is arrested and you may be required to appear in court proceedings at a later time.

Staffing

The Investigations Division is staffed by both sworn and professional (non-sworn) members of the Police Department who are highly trained and highly motivated to respond to the needs of the citizens of Oceanside. The sworn members are Police Officers who are referred to as Detectives. The professional staff members are divided into two categories: Investigative Assistants and Administrative Staff. Investigative Assistants may be called upon to assist detectives with their investigations or may be called upon to conduct complete investigations in lieu of a Detective. Administrative members will most likely be the first line of contact if you should contact the Investigations Division. They will attempt to give you the information you need or direct you to the member who can.

Crimes of Violence Unit

The Crimes of Violence Unit is responsible for investigating all violent crimes; including simple battery, serious assaults, violent hate crimes, non family related kidnapping, robberies, missing person, suspicious death incidents and homicides. The COV team also investigates the criminal aspect of officer involved shootings. All officer involved shooting investigations are submitted to the District Attorney's Office for review. When the COV team responds to a major case, a detective is assigned to handle the case as the primary case agent. Usually a second detective is assigned to work as their partner on the case. Others are assigned to assist with crime scene investigation and other ancillary duties, such as witness canvassing, search warrant service, and criminal data base searches.

Property Crimes Unit and Financial Crimes

The Property and Financial Crimes Unit is responsible for investigating all property related crimes; including petty theft, grand theft, auto theft, burglary, fraud, forgery, embezzlement, and other financial related crimes. One of the PCU detectives is also assigned to the Regional Auto Theft Team, (RATT Team), a countywide task force that investigates auto theft and related crimes on a large scale throughout the county.

Family Protection Unit

The Family Protection Unit is responsible for investigating domestic violence, child abuse, physical elder abuse, and all sex related crimes. Additionally, one of the FPU detectives is assigned specifically to monitor the cities registered sex offenders.