The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit is comprised of a Sergeant and three Investigators The unit is responsible for follow-up investigation on felony crimes, reviewing of all department cases and request for citizen criminal complaints. Investigators are also charged with the processing of juvenile reports.. This unit also provides direct investigative support to the Churchill County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators utilize valuable resources in the pursuit of solving crimes by staying in close contact with other professional agencies. They include the Nevada Division of Investigations, RMIN (Rocky Mountain Intelligence Network), Northern Nevada Gang Task Force, North Central Task Force, to name only a few.

Information sharing with other agencies is an important tool utilized to develop, locate and identify suspects. The modern age of computerized technology that we live in allows law enforcement to accomplish this task in a matter of seconds, by relaying pertinent information via network connections. The nationwide computer program called ‘TRAK’ is a prime example of a system that connects law enforcement agencies with each other throughout the nation. The TRAK system is credited with apprehending suspects, identifying persons and locating missing or abducted children. Networking email programs have also contributed to a ‘Fast and Efficient’ means of communicating.

Fallon Naval Air Station plays a vital role in our National Security and local community. Working jointly with NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service), Investigators are updated on suspicious persons, incidents and any potential terrorist threats or activities.

IDENTITY THEFTS

In this "Informational Age" our economy generates an enormous amount of data. Data that is easily accessed by, for the most part, honest people and businesses. Despite a person’s best effort to manage their personal information skilled identity thieves can gain access to a person’s data. This is accomplished by a variety of methods, from stealing identification cards, mail, rummaging through trash, and promotional scams.

Investigators process many fraud cases each year. A large number of these involve identity thefts and counterfeiting bank checks. A person can minimize their risks of becoming a victim by not giving personal information over the phone, or the internet unless they have initiated the contact. Know the company is legitimate before giving out personal information.

Deputies assigned to investigations receive training and develop specialized skills in investigations of major crimes, such as Child Sexual Abuse. Additionally, Investigators participate in local MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) monthly meetings where cases of child sexual abuse and neglect are discussed.

Investigators attend autopsies to relate the details of a death to the Pathologist and record the autopsy by documentation and photography. Investigators become keenly aware of the reality of death and the impact it has on both surviving family and society.

Other major crimes such as homicides, robbery, burglary require the investigator to constantly update and sharpen skills in crime scene photography, diagramming, processing of latent prints, using the latest technology in collection of evidence, from DNA to larger pronounced items.

Crime solving is a mixture of persistence, dedication and the desire to specialize.