Today’s criminal threats are more complex and sophisticated than ever, requiring a public safety strategy built upon innovation and intelligence. At the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), our investigative divisions work around the clock to solve complex cases and hold offenders accountable.
When the most serious threats to life and public safety occur, the detectives of BSO’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) respond with expertise to investigate violent crimes, homicides, robberies and cases involving missing or vulnerable individuals. Detectives use advanced technologies, including cellular tracking, social media monitoring tools and statewide alerts, to locate missing persons, identify offenders and support investigations.
The division also features specialized investigators dedicated to cold cases. In 2019, I established the Cold Case Unit to advance public safety and deliver justice by bringing renewed focus to unsolved cases dating back to 1963. Detectives in this unit collaborate with BSO’s Crime Laboratory to use advanced forensic techniques, including forensic genealogy and family tree analysis, to generate leads, solve decades-old crimes and provide long-awaited answers for victims and their families. Since its inception, the unit has closed 29 homicide and sexual battery cold cases and is currently investigating 38 additional cases. Last year, the unit’s partnership with the Crime Lab included forensic analysis of evidence from 17 cases, generating new investigative leads…