Investigation Divison

The Investigation Division is responsible for the investigation of reported and non-reported criminal activity in the community.  These investigations include the interviewing of complainants, witnesses and suspects.  The Division also has responsibility for the gathering and documenting of physical crime scene evidence and processing of all evidence and property collected.  This documentation is then compiled into a criminal case file for proper disposition.  The Investigation Division is also responsible for maintaining the property and evidence facility and submitting all evidence for analysis through the appropriate laboratory. 

The Investigation Division continues to work closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to address illegal drug, weapons and other activity in Southern Pines and surrounding communities. 

Through organized investigative case management, the Investigation Division strives to ensure all criminal investigations have appropriate follow-up and to remain proactive in the utilizing of citizen cooperation to minimize crime problems. 

Property and Evidence Section
 
The Investigation Division has the responsibility to maintain the property and evidence facility in compliance with statutory regulations and to submit all evidence for analysis to state and federal laboratories.  The Section consists of a full-time Property Technician with assistants assigned as needed. 
 
The Property and Evidence Section promptly and accurately enters, maintains and disposes of all property and evidence according to applicable regulations to preserve the integrity of the evidence and to serve the community by returning property and evidence to the rightful owner as quickly as possible once all statutory time frames and requirements have been met.
 
The effective investigation and prosecution of a criminal offender relies heavily on the careful, methodical and proper care of property and evidence. It is the responsibility of the Property and Evidence Section to maintain the integrity of each item of evidence as well as the integrity of the processing system.  The careful safeguards in place ensure all property coming into official custody is processed in accordance with state laws, city ordinances and departmental policies and procedures, to ensure the integrity of the item later in court, if needed.
 
Claiming Property
 
Property that is classified as “Found Property” or “Property for Safekeeping” (with the exception of firearms) may be claimed, with proper proof of ownership, by appointment at the Southern Pines Police Department.  Items classified as “Evidence” can only be disposed of following the court case with authorization of the Office of the District Attorney or upon a court order. 
 
Other property must be held for a period of time, depending on the type of property.  Found property, with the exception of firearms and contraband, must be held for ninety (90) days.  If you are the “finder” and wish to claim the property after that time (presuming the rightful owner has not already claimed it), you will be contacted by the Property Technician with further instructions.  Property that has been unclaimed by the rightful owner will be disposed of by releasing it to the finder (if a claim was made when the property was found), destruction, donation or public auction.  The Southern Pines Police Department conducts public auctions through Propertyroom.com.

Contact the Property Technician by email or by calling (910) 692-7031. 

Fingerprinting
 
The Southern Pines Police Department will assist citizens who need a documented record of their fingerprints for a professional license, foster care/child care application, employment application, rental/lease application or other required purposes. Persons interested in this service should be aware of the following: 

-  Pursuant to the Town of Southern Pines Code of Ordinances, the fee for fingerprinting is $5.00