Detectives working with the Baton Rouge Police Department are housed in the Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB). Detectives in the CIB are charged with the crucial task of conducting follow-up investigations to all major crimes committed within Baton Rouge city limits. There are four major divisions within the CIB: Crimes Against Persons, Property Crimes, Investigative Support, and Special Operations.
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In April 2014, detectives with the Baton Rouge Police Department were finally ready to close a 2008 murder case. The detectives in charge of the investigation claim evidence collected through forensic science and witness testimony ultimately led to the arrest of the shooting suspect. The suspect was later charged with second-degree murder. This cold case homicide is just one example of the type of criminal cases typically handled by detectives in Baton Rough, Louisiana.
Baton Rouge crime statistics for 2013:
- Larceny—7,649
- Burglary—3,262
- Aggravated Assault—1,031
- Robbery—975
- Motor Theft—508
- Arson—92
- Rape—53
- Homicide—40
- Negligent Homicide–5
Qualifying to Become a Detective with the Baton Rouge Criminal Investigations Bureau
According to the Baton Rough Police Department, all police positions, including detectives, are promotional and are typically determined by seniority in the ranks.
Therefore, detectives must first enter into the police department as police officers and gain experience.
There are approximately 700 sworn officers and 200 specialists and civilians in the Police Department workforce at present. To join this team, new recruits must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be between 21 and 45 years old
- Must be a United States citizen
- Must read, write and speak English
- Must be registered with the Selective Service
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Must have a Louisiana driver’s license
- Must hold an acceptable Civil Service Test Score
- Must submit to a litany of tests, including: polygraph examination, personal background check, criminal history investigation, credit history inquiry, medical evaluation, drug screening and liability risk assessment
Salary Incentives Available to College Educated Detectives
The Baton Rough Police Department (BRPD) only requires new recruits to have a high school diploma or GED before joining as a police officer. However, candidates that pursue college degrees will be at a distinct advantage during the hiring process because the BRPD takes pride in employing officers with post-secondary education.
In fact, once hired, employees with college credit are awarded greater annual salaries. The college incentive pay scale is as follows:
- 80 or more hours of college credit—additional $750/yr.
- Bachelor’s degree—additional $2,000/yr.
- Master’s degree—additional $2,500/yr.
The Baton Rouge Police Department does not indicate degree preferences for its employees. However, law enforcement professionals tend towards degree programs that concentrate on a discipline that is directly applicable to their career path. As such, common fields of study for degree-holding criminal investigators include criminal justice, public safety, homeland security, and law enforcement.
Examples of degree programs offered by colleges and universities in Louisiana include:
- Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Administration
- Associate of Science in Law Enforcement
- Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Emergency Service Technology
- Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Master of Science in Homeland Security
Divisions within the Baton Rouge PD Criminal Investigations Bureau
Detectives with the Baton Rouge Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau are assigned to a specialty division according to their work preference, skill set and training history.
Crimes Against Persons Division – Criminal investigators in this division are responsible for handling all cases involving homicide, armed robbery, juvenile/sex crimes, major assaults/missing persons and computer crimes.
Property Crimes Division – Criminal investigators in this division are responsible for handling all cases involving burglary, auto/impound, forgery and felony theft.
Investigative Support Division – Criminal investigators in this division are responsible for handling all cases involving crime scenes, evidence, polygraph examinations and crime stoppers.
Special Operations Division – Criminal investigators in this division are responsible for handling all cases involving narcotics, school drug task force and state/federal liaisons.