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HOMICIDE UNIT

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MURDER/ATT.MURDER DETAIL AGG. ASSAULT DETAIL TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION DETAIL
CONTACTING THE HOMICIDE UNIT


HOMICIDE UNIT

The Homicide Unit is directed by Lt. A. Trevino , and is currently staffed with four sergeants, thirty-nine detectives, one patrolman and eight civilian support personnel. The Homicide Unit is divided into three details:

  • Murder/Attempted Murder
  • Aggravated Assault/Assault
  • Traffic Investigation Detail


  • Murder/Attempted Murder Detail

    This detail is divided into two teams with a sergeant in charge of each team. Each team has nine detectives assigned, for a total of eighteen. Murders and Attempted Murders are assigned to the detectives on a rotation basis by their sergeant. The sergeant, who is ultimately responsible for the case, assigns a lead investigator. The sergeant periodically reviews each case, ensuring that everything that can be done on the case is being done. There are times when all leads have been exhausted and there is nothing left to do, at which time the case is set aside pending new leads and/or information.

    COLD CASE SQUAD: The Homicide Unit has reviewed hundreds of unsolved murder cases during the past 15 years. [You may want to visit the SAPD Cold Case Page] Due to new technologies available to us, such as the Automated Fingerprint System (AFIS) and new DNA testing, some of our older unsolved cases are being reviewed to see if they merit further investigation. Since 2000 a detective has been assigned full-time to Cold Cases investigations. In 2002, a second detective was added to the Cold Case Squad, and in 2005, a third detective was assigned part-time to work on Cold Cases.
    During the past 5 years, the Cold Case Squad has solved 18 homicide cold cases. [Please visit the SAPD Solved Cold Cases Page]

    OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING TEAM:The Officer Involved Shooting Team (OIST) is made up of the Homicide lieutenant (Director), three sergeants (two Murder/Attempted Murder sergeants and the Aggravated Assault/Assault sergeant) and six detectives (from the Murder/Attempted Murder Detail). The OIST is responsible for handling:

  • All incidents in which an officer discharges his firearm and the discharge results in the death or injury to any person; and
  • Any incident in which an officer uses deadly force against another or deadly force is used against an officer, which results in death or serious bodily injury to any person.

  • The SAPD Officer Involved Shooting Team handles all incidents meeting the above requirements, regardless of the agency the officer works for, as long as the incident occurs within the incorporated limits of the city of San Antonio, TX. The OIST is activated whenever an incident occurs, day or night. The OIST reports directly to the Chief of Police upon activation.

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    Assaults/Aggravated Assaults Detail

    This Detail is made up of one sergeant and 12 detective investigators. Of these 12 detectives, 8 handle all non-family-related aggravated assaults, aggravated assaults on peace officers, injury to the elderly, retaliation, stalking and felony deadly conduct cases. The remaining four detectives handle all misdemeanor walk-ins. (NOTE: A complainant wishing to file misdemeanor charges on a person, regardless of whether a police report has already been taken, is required to appear in person and speak with a detective. This is considered a walk-in.) These misdemeanor offenses include assaults, terroristic threats, harassment and misdemeanor deadly conduct. These offenses cannot be family related. If a case is family related, it will be handled by the Family Violence Detail which is part of the Sex Crimes Unit.[For information on family-related, or domestic assaults, you may want to visit the SAPD Sex Crimes Unit page.]

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    Traffic Investigation Detail

    The SAPD Traffic Investigation Detail (TID) is directed by the Homicide lieutenant and is staffed with one sergeant and seven detectives. These detectives conduct follow-up investigations on all fatality accidents and any traffic-related criminal offenses that occur within the city limits of San Antonio. TID detectives investigate felony offenses such as Intoxication Manslaughter, Intoxication Assault, and Failure to Stop and Render Aid, and misdemeanor offenses such as Failure to Stop and Give Information (also known as Hit and Run). Investigation of Failure to Stop and Give Information is not automatically initiated. Anyone wishing to pursue a criminal charge of Failure to Stop and Give Information is required to appear in person and speak with a detective regarding the incident. A professionally written estimate of the damage to your vehicle must also be provided to the detective at this time so that the offense can be classified as to severity.

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    Reaching the Homicide Unit

    FOR INFORMATION: Call 207-7635 for the Murder/Attempted Murder and Assaults Details, or 207-7385 for the Traffic Investigation Detail. All details in the Homicide Unit, including the Traffic Investigation Detail, are open 7 days a week, from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Between 7:00 PM and 5:00 AM you can phone one of the above numbers and speak with a Night Utility Detective, who will either answer your question or forward your request to the appropriate detail.

    TO REPORT CRIMES: To report crimes or provide information to detectives on a crime, you may call 207-7635 from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM or from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM. You may also call Crime Stoppers at 224-STOP (7867), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may also send information to the Homicide Unit via our e-mail address, which is homicide@sanantonio.gov We welcome any suggestions, comments and/or information.

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