When a crime is reported in Yonkers, patrol officers are usually the first ones on the scene to investigate. They will conduct interviews and determine what course of action, if any, needs to be followed. When more serious crimes are encountered, patrol officers will call upon the police department’s Detective Division for assistance. Criminal investigators from this squad are in charge of investigating all serious crimes, including most felonies. When detectives arrive on the scene, they provide advanced assistance with things like:
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- Crime scene processing
- Evidence collection
- Case construction and development
- Creation of criminal files and open cases
Candidates interested in pursuing detective jobs with the Yonkers PD should start by reviewing the employment requirements for these positions.
How to Become a Detective with the Yonkers Police Department
Experienced police officers are eligible to take a detective civil service exam. Depending on the current need for detectives within the Yonkers PD, the number of years of requisite police experience can vary.
To be considered for these jobs, prospective detectives must demonstrate exemplary service while working on patrol and have no outstanding disciplinary issues.
To become a detective with the Yonkers Police Department’s Detective Division, candidates will need to start by meeting the department’s initial requirements for hire as an entry-level patrol officer. The requirements are:
- Be between the ages of 18-35
- Be a legal resident of Westchester, Putnam, Nassau, Bronx, or Rockland Counties
- Have a good moral character with no serious criminal convictions
Although not one of the stated requirements, candidates interested in criminal investigator jobs with the Yonkers PD may also consider obtaining a college education. Having an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject can provide candidates with several advantages. These include a sturdy base of knowledge in the investigative field as well as augmented initial qualifications. Related academic fields include:
- Law
- Criminal Justice
- Forensic Science
- Law Enforcement
- Police Science
Yonkers Police Department Detective Division Expertise and Training
The Yonkers Police Department Detective Division handles a range of cases, starting with its General Assignment Squads, which are charged with conducting initial investigations into all types of crimes. Additional resources are available through several specialized units:
- Major Cases Unit
- Narcotics Unit
- Gang Unit
- Child Abuse Investigation Team
- Fraud and Forgery Unit
- Cold Case Unit
- Technical Computer Crimes Unit
- Crime Scene Unit
- Forensic Laboratory
Detective training is tailored to a criminal investigator’s area of expertise. Detective Division criminal investigator training includes:
- Conducting undercover operations
- Domestic violence and family issues
- Cold case investigations with new technology
- Detecting and investigating forgeries
- Conducting homicide investigations
- Narcotics trafficking
- Crimes against children and the elderly
Infamous Cold Case Solved by a Yonkers PD Detective
One of the most infamous cases Yonkers PD detectives have handled in recent years involved a serial killer who preyed upon local women and remained at large for 20 years. For decades the cold case had remained unsolved until the dedicated detective work of one Yonkers PD investigator paid off. After many years of false leads and negative DNA samples, the detective got a call one day telling him that a lab had found DNA common to the scenes of three different brutal murders.
However identifying the victim based on his DNA was only the beginning. Through a careful interrogation procedure and detective work that placed the suspect in the vicinity of the murders around the correct time, the detective was able to finally put the decades-old case behind him as well as bring closure to the families of the victims, securing a guilty verdict on all counts of murder.