The Investigations Section is responsible for investigating crimes against persons and property and supports the Westerville Division of Police’s efforts to maximize public safety. The detectives and the crime analyst in this section work with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to identify and mitigate crime trends and work in conjunction with human services organizations to provide support services to victims. Detectives rotate through on-call periods in order to investigate crimes and collect evidence at all times of the day or night. 

Detectives also supplement the Westerville Division of Police’s recruitment efforts by conducting background investigations, conducting CVSA (Computer Voice Stress Analyzer) tests, and other functions to assess prospective employees.

The Westerville Division of Police works in partnership with the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for additional support and evidence analysis.

For more information, please call (614) 901-6475.

   

Crash Investigation Unit

The Division maintains a Crash Investigation Unit composed of traffic crash reconstructionists and trained crash investigators. Members of the Crash Investigation Unit are called out to investigate fatal crashes and crashes with serious, life-threatening injuries or significant property damage.  The unit will frequently consult with a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) when possible drug and alcohol impairment is suspected.    

Drone Unit

In 2016, Westerville began exploring the use of drones for public safety. The police and fire divisions combined resources to make the project more cost-effective. After years of research, the city purchased its first two drones in late 2018.

Initially, the drones were primarily used to locate missing people and fleeing suspects. However, as technology advanced and drones gained the ability to live stream video, their uses expanded significantly. The drone video feed can now be shared with incident commanders, field personnel, and anyone with a computer or smartphone, enhancing situational awareness.

Westerville currently has three drones in its program: a Matrice 350, Matrice 210, and a Mavic 2 Zoom. Plans are underway to expand the fleet to enable quicker response times.

The drone program has evolved to meet the city's needs, providing valuable assistance in various public safety operations.

Reporting a crime anonymously

Please call (614) 901-6866 if you have information regarding a crime or potential criminal activity OR to submit a tip or information about a possible crime, click the button below.