The Detective Bureau staff is tasked with conducting complex and basic criminal, and occasionally civil, investigations. These investigations range from homicide to criminal mischief and harassment allegations. Investigators were placed in either property crimes investigations, the child victims unit or the special victims unit. In addition, the detective bureau is responsible for the following:
Captain Jim Smith started his career in law enforcement as a jail officers 1987 until he was promoted to the patrol division in 1990. After 2 years in patrol he was selected to work in the Elkhart County Drug Task Force for the next 4 years. In 2004 he was promoted to the investigative division where he worked property crimes investigation and was the Sex and Violent Offender Registration coordinator for 3 years. He was promoted to Lieutenant for a short time until he was promoted to his current rank of Captain. Captain Smith served on the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Unit (SWAT) for 9 years, was a founding member of the agency’s Motor unit, Sr Commander of the Honor Guard since 1998, firearms instructor, Polygraph examiner, and member of the American Polygraph Association.