Page 45 - 2021 A Year in Review

The Detective Division is the investigative branch

of the Cranston Police Department. It is

responsible for all secondary investigations of

crimes that occur within the boundaries of the

City of Cranston. The Division is under the

command of Captain Vincent M. McAteer, III, a

twenty-six-year veteran of the Cranston Police Department. He is assisted by

Lieutenant Stephen Brooks, a twenty-seven-year veteran of the Cranston Police

Department, and Lieutenant Dennis Neri (Special Investigations), a twenty-five-year

veteran of the Cranston Police Department. Additionally, the Division consists of five

Sergeants, thirty-two Detectives, four civilian clerks, and one Law Enforcement

Advocate. We are currently divided into five units: The Criminal Investigations Unit

(CIU), Special Victims Unit (SVU), Bureau of Criminal Identification Unit (BCI), Special

Investigations Unit (SIU), and the Prosecution Unit.

The mission of the Detective Division is to provide primary criminal investigative

support to the Department. Generally speaking, the Uniform Patrol Division takes

incident reports. If a further investigation is needed, that case will be forwarded to our

Division for follow-up and closure. The Division is tasked with investigating crimes

involving domestic violence, sexual offenses, juvenile offenders or victims, vandalisms,

and missing persons.

The year 2021 marked a return to normal operations for our Detective Division. The

Special Investigations Unit returned under the auspices of the Detective Captain, and

the Division maintained scheduling according to the pre-COVID-19 personnel

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Cranston Police Department Year in Review 2021