In 2012 the City of Buffalo, New York saw 48 homicides, and a total of 3,382 violent crimes. Tasked with ensuring the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice, the Buffalo Police Department calls on its experienced detectives to investigate the most serious offenses. Detectives in the Buffalo PD work on cases in a variety of specialized units:
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- Cold Case Squad
- Homicide
- Narcotics
- Internal Affairs Division
- Sex Offenses
- Intelligence Unit
To become a detective with the Buffalo Police Department, candidates will need to ensure they are qualified and ready for a career that can be both challenging and rewarding. Homicide cases are a good example of this challenge, where detectives must examine tragic crime scenes and conduct interviews with the families of victims. However this hard work often pays off when arrests are made and convictions secured.
Qualifications to Become a Detective with the Buffalo Police Department
Detective Requirements – Detective jobs with the Buffalo Police Department are open to candidates who have satisfied the following requirements, however these requirements can change according to demand:
- Have passed a detective civil service exam
- Have at least three years of experience as a Buffalo police officer
- Are in good standing within the police department
Entry-Level Requirements – Anyone interested in criminal investigator jobs with the BPD will also need to meet the requirements for entry-level hire as a patrol officer. Chief among these is the requirement that applicants possess one of the following:
- 60 hours of college credit
- Two years of continuous military service
60 college credits are equivalent to an associate’s degree, which can be in any major. However, certain majors will provide knowledge valuable to conducting criminal investigations:
- Criminal Justice
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Law Enforcement
- Police Science
- Law
Having a bachelor’s degree will fulfill these initial qualifications and may also increase a prospective detective’s future career prospects.
Criminal Investigator Training – Detective training for those who are newly appointed into criminal investigator roles will include an in-depth focus on a detective’s areas of specialization. These can include:
- Cyber crimes against children
- Homicide investigations
- Narcotics trafficking and production
- Modern forensic and investigative technology
- New York State laws and statutes
- Oral testimony as evidence
- Witness, suspect, and victim interviewing
- Domestic violence investigations
- Undercover operations and surveillance
Undercover Buffalo Detectives Bust Murder-for-Hire Plot
Detective jobs with the Buffalo Police Department can involve a wide variety of investigative techniques, including undercover work.
Recently, detectives with the Intelligence Unit jumped on a case when they heard about a car mechanic who had been contacted by a disgruntled woman trying to arrange to kill her mother-in-law. The mechanic agreed to cooperate with detectives, one of whom posed as a hit man.
As part of the sting operation, the three met to discuss the details of the crime. The woman also promised the undercover detective more work if he succeeded because she also wanted to arrange to have other family members murdered. After being tape-recorded by detectives as she detailed the plot, the woman was arrested.