Criminal Investigation Division

Morganton Department of Public Safety's Criminal Investigation Division is headed by Lt. Nick Edwards.

The Criminal Investigations Division consists of two components: the Criminal Investigations General Assignment Unit and the Vice and Narcotics Unit.

The Criminal Investigations General Assignment Unit is a dedicated unit of the police department, with multiple tasks and duties assigned to it. The unit consists of five full-time plainclothes investigators, which includes the Investigator Sergeant. The Criminal Investigations Division Investigators report directly to the Criminal Investigations Division Sergeant, who functions as a working investigator/supervisor.

The primary function of the Criminal Investigations Division is the investigation of all felony and serious misdemeanor crimes with the intent to bring the violator before a court of law. The investigators of this division are some of the most seasoned Public Safety Officers who have received extensive training in various investigative fields, such as: sexual assault, fraud, homicide, financial crimes, interview and interrogation, and child abuse/sexual assault crimes. Additionally, two investigators are polygraph examiners which may be used in both criminal cases and pre-employment screenings.

The Criminal Investigations Division works closely with many different agencies to complete their investigations. The Burke County District Attorney's Office, Burke County Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Secret Service, and various surrounding local and state agencies are among the many agencies that the investigative division routinely assists, and receives assistance from.

The investigative division is also responsible for the background checks of potential applicants for public safety officer, fire engineer, and support personnel. A typical background check may take weeks to complete, and includes a criminal history check, an interview with all past employers, a credit check, a home and neighborhood visit, and a polygraph examination.