Detective Division
The Detective Division consists of four members. The detectives' primary duties and responsibilities involve (yet are not limited to) conducting in-depth investigation of crimes against persons and property.
The Detective Division investigates reports of both physical and sexual abuse involving children. Investigations of this nature involve a cooperative effort between the Detective Division and other agencies, such as Stearns County Human Services' Child Protection team members. Specialized training and procedures are also utilized that have been specifically designed to achieve the most productive child interview. All Stearns County detectives have undergone extensive training provided by Corner House of Minneapolis, a nationally- renowned training facility designed specifically for interviewing victims of child abuse. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office has a "soft" interview room to assist in these investigations.
All members of the Detective Division also are assigned as investigators with the Tri-County Major Crime Investigative Unit. The MCIU is a specialized investigative unit comprised of personnel from Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns County Sheriff's Offices and the St. Cloud Police Department. The unit was organized to assist the member agencies with investigation of major crimes occurring within their jurisdictions.
The Detective Division also works closely with personnel and forensic scientists from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The BCA has a mobile crime laboratory, which is utilized for major crime scene investigations.
In 1999, an additional member was added to the Detective Division for the purpose of Welfare Fraud Investigation. The position is a collaborative effort between the Stearns County Sheriff's Office and Human Services.