Criminal Investigations Division

Criminal Investigations

The Investigations Division is tasked with following leads developed during the initial reporting of serious criminal activity to the police department. The investigators are ready to respond anytime, day or night, to the needs of crime victims, or to the scene of any criminal activity including, but not limited to, Homicide, Robbery, Burglary, Arson, and Aggravated Battery.

The members of the Investigations Division follow up on reports of serious criminal activity. The investigators establish that a criminal act was indeed committed, identify and apprehend the person responsible for the criminal act, eliminate the innocent and wrongfully accused, and attempt to recover any property and evidence. The Investigations Division is also responsible for the examination of crime scenes along with coordinating the evaluation, collection, and maintenance of all evidence with the evidence technicians.

The Investigations Division plays an integral part in assisting the State of South Carolina in prosecuting the suspect charged with an offense. Criminal investigations include gathering information, interviewing parties, and collecting evidence. The arrests of offenders and recovery of stolen property or contraband are accomplished through the evaluation of crime trends and patterns, the identification and location of past and probable offenders, and the utilization of modern police technology and the forensic sciences. By developing and maintaining active relationships between Anderson County and other law enforcement agencies; local, state and federal prosecution agencies; social service organizations, and local citizen groups, the investigators successfully bring criminal cases to prosecution and
conclusion.

Commanding Officers

The Child Sexual Predator Crime Unit is dedicated to investigating online child predators and child pornographers who use the Internet and computers to victimize children and prosecuting any crime perpetrated or substantially facilitated using a computer, the internet, digital media, cellular phone, or any other electronic device. In part this strategy involves undercover law enforcement officers posing as children in Internet chat rooms and social networking sites.

 It also involves detecting, investigating, and arresting those who victimize children by creating, sharing, and distributing images of child sexual violence and exploitation. The investigators in the unit are specially trained in current technologies, tactics, and the law. They also share their expertise through educational programs and community awareness efforts.

Computer and Cell Phone Forensics

The Anderson Police Department’s computer forensics lab offers specialized services regarding computers, cell phones, PDAs and many other technology related items. Computer forensics has advanced significantly over the last decade. Technology advances in computer forensics have played a major role resolving criminal cases. Computers and digital devices capable of retaining data are ubiquitous in modern society. Computer forensic services are utilized as an additional resource during a criminal investigation. Computer forensics can provide evidence of motivation, a chronology of events, insight into an offender’s true interests and activities, and links among multiple offenders. 

Any investigation could develop a potential benefit from computer forensics. The Anderson Police Department routinely offers computer forensic services to other Law Enforcement Agencies upon request. 231-1138

Crime Scene Techs

The Anderson Police Department, Crime Scene Unit has been established to set a standard for the collection and preservation of evidence; And through the use of scientific knowledge and methods assist Detectives and Officers in the use of physical evidence to corroborate testimony, facilitate arrests, and obtain convictions of offenders, as well as clear innocent victims wrongfully accused

Property and Evidence

Property and Evidence is an integral part of the Forensic Division and law enforcement community. The Section primarily supports the  Anderson Police Department. The main functions of the Forensic Division Property and Evidence Section are the receipt, storage, and release of evidence. Additionally, the Property and Evidence Section acts as a liaison between the evidence contributors and the laboratories of the Forensic Division used for analysis. In instances involving external agencies, the Property and Evidence Section provides temporary storage for evidence awaiting laboratory analysis.

Victim Advocate

The Victim Advocate helps to ensure that all rights of a crime victim are protected. Advocates can assist crime victims with law enforcement, throughout the court system and with service providers. The Anderson Police Department Victim Advocate assists women and children in domestic violence situations get into Safe Harbor II which is the local domestic violence shelter. The Advocate refers crime victims to service providers in Anderson such as Family Counseling Center, Foothills Alliance, Upstate Homeless Coalition, SunShine House, Anderson Interfaith Ministries, Crisis Ministries, Behavioral Health Services, DSS, Good Neighbor Cupboard, Salvation Army, Haven of Rest and Safe Harbor II.

Barbara Groves assist crime victims in filling out Orders of Protections, Restraining Orders and State Office of Victim Assistance Compensation (SOVA) forms. They also attend Order of Protection hearings in Family Court with the victims and Restraining Order hearings in Summary Court. SOVA is available to assist crime victims with medical bills, counseling, lost wages and funeral bills. SOVA is a last resort payee which means that victims must file with their health insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid first and then SOVA is the last source of payment. SOVA is available to crime victims if they meet their requirement which is as follows:

• Be involved in a crime in the State of South Carolina
• Receive physical injury as a result of the crime
• Cannot be involved in any illegal activity at the time of the crime
• Report the incident to law enforcement within 48 hours
• Fully cooperate with law enforcement
• Fill out and submit SOVA form within 180 days of crime

SOVA will pay directly to the health provider. If you file for SOVA, then the Advocates will assist you in the application process and mail all forms to SOVA. Once the application if filed, the victim should contact SOVA directly providing them with the information that they request of the victim by mail. SOVA will not pre approve a victim for health care services. Information that is needed by the Advocates in requesting funeral bill payment is a copy of the funeral bill, death certificate and the person who is responsible for the bill to sign the SOVA application. If you need assistance with a SOVA application, please contact the Victim Advocates.
The Advocate also assists law enforcement with interviewing victims and providing services at the Emergency Room for sexual assault victims. The Advocates can attend court with the victim and assist the victim at bond hearings in the Anderson Municipal Court.

If the victim is a victim of a crime that is a state case, tried in the Court of General Sessions, the victim and all of their information is referred to the Anderson County Solicitor’s Office Victim Advocates. The Solicitor’s Officer Advocates will notify the victim of any hearings or plea agreements.

If you are a victim of a crime and wish to speak with the Victim Advocate, please contact Barbara Groves at 864-260-4858, bgroves@cityofandersonsc.com.