Investigations division seeks eight special investigators as mapping work continues

Nicole Bowles, deputy chief of investigations, told the Enforcement, Investigations and Intervention Committee the division is continuing a workflow-mapping effort and pursuing additional investigative staff.

Bowles said staff have completed 20 workflow maps and began twice-weekly mapping workshops with the Office of Juvenile Improvement to accelerate the process. She described that work as resource-intensive and said special investigators and supervising investigators participate in mapping sessions.

Bowles said that BRN submitted a budget change proposal seeking eight additional full-time special investigator positions; the governor’s proposed 2026–27 budget includes that request, but Bowles and Executive Officer Loretta Melby cautioned the request still must clear the legislative budget process and the May revision before final approval. If approved, staff plan to post duty statements on July 1 and begin recruitment and onboarding, which the EO said would not produce an immediate caseload reduction.

Bowles also said investigations launched an enhanced triage and preliminary case-work pilot on June 10, 2025, which is set to conclude this month and will be reported at the board meeting in March. She noted that as of Jan. 3, 2025, full-time special investigators have an average of 29 active cases and that the division is recruiting for one full-time special investigator in the southern region.

Committee members thanked staff for the update and flagged the relationship between staffing and investigation timelines.