Lt. Colonel Vincent Demasi
Investigations Bureau Commander
This bureau, commanded by an assistant chief, consists of the Central Vice Control Section, Criminal Investigation Section, and Intelligence Section. This bureau handles investigations and gathers intelligence involving vice activity, homicides, sex crimes, crimes against children, and property crimes.
CENTRAL VICE CONTROL SECTION (CVCS), commanded by a captain, is responsible for activity related to general vice and drug enforcement. The enforcement of laws related to liquor, prostitution, gambling, drugs, obscenity, pornography and regulatory violations are among the primary responsibilities of CVCS. CVCS coordinates Department enforcement activity in these areas and provides a central repository for related records and vice intelligence information. In addition to street level drug and vice enforcement, the section also includes the Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU), Mid-Level Drug Unit, and Regulatory Enforcement Unit. The section operates two shifts, each commanded by a lieutenant.
Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU), supervised by a sergeant, has personnel assigned to the multi-agency Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU). RENU is made up of numerous cooperating law enforcement agencies within the region, functioning as a single unit, in order to investigate primary sources for the suppliers of illicit drugs into the Greater Cincinnati area.
Mid-Level Drug Unit, supervised by a sergeant, is responsible for undercover personnel assigned to investigate mid-level drug activity.
Regulatory Enforcement Unit, supervised by a sergeant, has primary responsibility for oversight of investigations into four areas. These areas are Pharmaceutical Compliance, Asset Forfeiture, Liquor Control and Drug Abatement.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION (CIS), commanded by a captain, is comprised of the Homicide Unit, Personal Crimes Unit, Major Offenders Unit, and Youth Services Unit.
Homicide Unit, commanded by a lieutenant, investigates homicides, all violent or suspicious deaths, fire deaths, police shootings, police use of force resulting in hospitalization, prisoner deaths while in custody, potentially fatal assaults, felony patient abuse and neglect cases, kidnappings and abductions. The Homicide Unit also maintains a central file of confiscated weapons. The unit administers the Department’s Robbery Apprehension Program (RAP) and is the Department’s liaison with the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office. The Homicide Unit is also responsible for the direct supervision of the Criminalistics Squad.
Personal Crimes Unit, commanded by a lieutenant, is responsible for investigating rapes and other sexual assault offenses, missing persons, child stealing, and certain other crimes against children. It acts as a liaison with the Hamilton County Juvenile Court and other social support organizations. The unit also coordinates and schedules all polygraph and computer voice stress analyzer examinations.
Major Offenders Unit, commanded by a lieutenant, is responsible for the operation of the Financial Crimes Squad, which conducts investigations of financial institution robberies, fraud, forgery, credit card fraud, check embezzlement, extortion, and coercion and bribery offenses. The unit also administers the Rapid Indictment Program.
Youth Services Unit, commanded by a lieutenant, is responsible for the administration and services related to juveniles. Youth Services Unit includes the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Squad and School Resource Officer (SRO) Squad. This unit is committed to the development and perpetuation of programs designed to prevent and control juvenile delinquency. The responsibility for participating in or supporting the agency’s juvenile operations function is shared by all agency components and personnel.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Squad, supervised by a sergeant, is responsible for implementing and coordinating the DARE program. Kindergarten through eighth grade classes are instructed by police officers in all Cincinnati public schools and selected private schools. Fundamental courses are given to kindergarten through fourth grade students. The core of the program is taught to fifth grade students and upon successful completion they graduate from the DARE course. Reinforcement classes are then given to students in grades six through eight.
School Resource Officer (SRO) Squad, supervised by a sergeant, consists of uniformed personnel working in the schools providing community police services to the school population.
INTELLIGENCE SECTION, commanded by a lieutenant, gathers, analyzes, stores, and disseminates information concerning organized crime, terrorist activity, and criminally violent groups. This section monitors threats against public safety, threats against public officials, and threats against police officers. In addition to their traditional responsibilities, the Intelligence Section oversees firearm investigations, fencing of stolen property, pawn shop coordination, auto theft coordination, and the coordination of citywide investigative efforts for burglary offenses. Intelligence Section manages the Department’s involvement in the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) and involvement in the federal “Project Disarm” program. It also maintains a network of communication with regional and national intelligence organizations.
SOFAST, coordinated by a sergeant, is a multi-agency task force headed by the United States Marshal’s Office. It is designed to locate and apprehend those persons wanted for violent felonies. SOFAST was formed as a response to the large volume of outstanding warrants and the ease with which offenders travel across jurisdictional boundaries. The partnership formed by the participation of multiple agencies combines resources and allows for ease in crossing jurisdictional boundaries.
Project Disarm, coordinated by a sergeant, refers to the partnership between the Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hamilton County Prosecutors Office, and the United States Attorney to investigate and prosecute those engaged in the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms. Cases involving persons arrested for the illegal possession of firearms by Cincinnati police officers are reviewed, and those who have a high propensity for violence are designated for prosecution under Project Disarm. Those cases are then prosecuted federally where the sentences tend to be much stricter. Project Disarm also attempts to identify and prosecute those involved in the illegal trafficking of firearms. These efforts work hand in hand with the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) in targeting those who have the highest propensity for gun violence.
