Investigative Services Division

In 1999, the investigative function of the Lowell Police Department was redesigned to align itself with the philosophy of the Department as a whole. The traditional organization of the detective function was one of centrally located specialized units. This approach was changed to a more decentralized and more generalized organizational structure.
The Investigative Services Division is comprised of two main units, the Criminal Investigation Section and the Special Investigation Section. The centralized detectives handle major cases that have citywide implications and require longer commitment in time and resources.

Criminal Investigation

The Criminal Investigation Section is charged with the investigation of major crimes and providing investigative support for sector detectives. Central Detectives, as they are commonly referred to, are also a point of contact for outside agencies that routinely request assistance or information for their own investigations. The unit is comprised of experienced and talented detectives that are charged with investigating some of the City's most notorious crimes. The unit responds and investigates all suspicious deaths and assaults that result in life threatening injuries. Technology is revolutionizing the art of detective work and the Central Detectives are preparing for this next evolution in crime solving.

Special Investigation

The Special Investigation Section, often referred to as the "Vice Squad", is responsible for the investigation of narcotics trafficking, prostitution, alcohol and gaming, as well as supporting the sector detectives in the investigation of these and other crimes. This unit specializes in surveillance and technology. The members of this unit are trained in the latest techniques and utilize special tactics in combating one of the most serious problems to plague our society, drugs. The unit routinely works in cooperation with state and federal authorities and has a long-standing reputation for quality investigations.

Cross Border Initiative

The Lowell Police Department (LPD) in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other state and federal agencies are partners in the Cross Border Initiative (CBI). The CBI receives funding from the Executive Office of Public Safety and is a multi-jurisdictional, provisional task force established in 1992 to create a comprehensive law enforcement approach to drug trafficking in the Northern New England states. This approach includes the utilization of traditional investigative methods such as surveillance, undercover operations, use of informants, reverse stings, and street-level "buy and bust" operations. The CBI partners also use information systems created to organize and analyze information collected from intelligence and surveillance activities, as well as organize participant agencies and resources. This system enhances the effectiveness of investigation through efficient organization of information and provides partners with the knowledge and data to strategically deploy resources.