Detectives in Shreveport work for the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division, which handles criminal investigations through three major units:
- Persons and Property Unit
- Youth Services Unit
- Financial Crime Task Force Unit
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Shreveport investigators working in the Shreveport-Caddo Narcotics Task Force recently made headlines when “Operation May Day” led to 15 felony arrests and 6 misdemeanor arrests related to illegal drugs and firearms possession.
By teaming up with outside task forces within the DEA, ATF and U.S. Marshall, investigators successfully seized $148,625 in illegal narcotics, 10 firearms and over $17,000 in cash.
Promotional Hiring for Detectives in Shreveport
In general, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office does not publish job posting for detective positions, nor is there a traditional application process for these coveted positions. Instead, detectives enter into the Sheriff’s Office as new recruits who join the police officer workforce.
Police officers earn promotional advancement toward criminal investigation positions after several years of work experience, specialized on-the-job training, and collaborative teamwork with seasoned detectives.
Meeting Qualifications – Since most detectives in Shreveport begin their careers as sheriff’s deputies, it is important to become acquainted with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office list of job qualifications:
- Must be a United States citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Must have a high school diploma, GED or college degree from an accredited institution
- Must be willing to work any shifted requested.
Meeting this short list of job qualification does not signal the end of the hiring process. Once the Sheriff’s Office has officially approved a job candidate’s application for employment, candidates are required to submit to a series of tests designed to gauge their ability to perform job functions:
- Reading comprehension review
- Physical fitness assessment
- Personal interview
- Pre-polygraph test
- Background investigation
- Post-polygraph test
- Psychological evaluation
- Medical examination
- Drug screening
The Benefits of a Degree – Although the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division does not require detectives to have a college degree prior to joining the police force, job candidates that do may find that they have competitive edge over other applicants. Not only will college experience help new recruits land a position, it will also help them to achieve higher salaries.
According to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, employees that complete an associate’s degree will receive an additional $1,200/yr. Those that complete an undergraduate degree will receive an additional $1,800/yr. And detectives that complete a master’s degree will receive an additional $2,400/yr.
Degree options available to criminal investigators in Louisiana include:
- Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies
- Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Unified Public Safety
- Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security Studies
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Academy Training – Aspiring detectives that are hired as police officers in the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office must graduate from the Basic Peace Officer Academy. The training program ensures that all new recruits receive the same level of training and meet the same set of rigorous standards. Examples of courses provided by the Training Academy include:
- Defensive Tactics
- Building Searches
- Ground Fighting
- Terrorism Awareness
- Weapons Qualification
- Law Enforcement Supervision
Criminal Investigations Units Within the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office
Each unit within the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division concentrates on a unique category of crimes that are investigated by detectives with specialized training and experience:
Persons and Property Unit – The detectives working in the Persons and Property Unit are assigned to investigate crimes involving homicide, sexual assault, robbery, burglary and theft.
Youth Services Unit – Detectives working in the Youth Services Unit are assigned to investigate crimes involving juveniles. Most cases in this unit relate to physical and sexual abuse.
Financial Crime Task Force Unit – Detectives working in the Financial Crime Task Force Unit investigate crimes involving finance. Examples of these crimes include fraud, embezzlement and fraud.