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Idaho Falls Police form two‑detective special victims unit to focus on child and sexual‑assault cases
Summary
Police Chief announced a reorganization that moves two detectives into a new special victims unit to improve investigations of child and adult sexual‑assault cases; staff emphasized continued use of victim‑services partners and an in‑department victim advocate.
Police Chief John Center told the Idaho Falls City Council that the Police Department has reorganized part of its investigative bureau to create a two‑detective special victims unit that will concentrate on child sexual‑assault cases and some adult sexual‑assault investigations.
The chief said the change did not add staff but reallocated two detectives within the investigative bureau into a team approach. "They are predominantly gonna be working child sexual‑abuse cases … and some adult sexual‑abuse cases," the chief said, adding that the unit is designed so detectives work as a team while individual detectives sign and carry cases forward to trial.
Chief Center said violent crime overall is down year‑to‑date — "violent crime is down 8%" — but that sex‑offense subcategories have increased (he reported the sex‑offense trend higher by roughly 9% this year). He told council the new unit has already handled “huge cases, with lots of victims” in the first weeks since creation and that the team model should provide better, more consistent service to victims and improve case clearance.
Councilors asked about victim services and coordination. The chief replied the department partners with the local domestic violence and sexual‑assault center (DV/SA) and also has a grant‑funded victim advocate on staff, both of which help provide support and services to victims during investigations.
The chief did not ask for additional hires at this time but said if the upward trend in relevant crimes continues he would seek to increase the unit’s size in the future.
The announcement was presented during the council’s regular reports and no formal council action was taken at the workshop.
