The Criminal Investigation Division is under the leadership of Lieutenant Terry Johnson. There are five full-time investigators, two part-time investigators, and one secretary. In addition to Lt. Johnson, the division is staffed by Sgt. Bob Bushbacher, Investigator Brad Lewis, Investigator Eric Neal, Investigator Brad Hurst, Investigator Larry Walters, Investigator Drayton McDaniel, CID Secretary/Reserve Deputy Jaime Holland, Investigator/Reserve Deputy Jennifer Baker, and Kenton Treat (Hot Check Collections).

Once a uniformed deputy takes a report, C.I.D. will begin a follow-up investigation. C.I.D. is responsible for processing and cataloging evidence at crime scenes. They also prepare affidavits for arrest warrants, search warrants, interview victims, witnesses, and suspects, and perform many other related duties.

Criminal Investigators assist patrol deputies in the investigation of fatality traffic accidents on county roads. For example, in February 2006, they investigated a fatal crash involving alcohol that resulted in charges of Negligent Homicide being filed against the driver. It was possible to bring charges several months after the crash due to the efforts of investigators in collecting and submitting DNA and other evidence from the crash site to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis.

Combating the manufacture and distribution of narcotics is also a top priority of the Criminal Investigation Division. With the reduced funding for the 14th Judicial Drug Task Force, the Sheriff’s Office has been forced to rely primarily on its own resources and personnel in dealing with the ever present problem of narcotics and other illicit drugs in Baxter County.

In 2009, the Criminal Investigation Division seized various types of illegal narcotics and other drugs with an estimated street value of $37,236.00, with an 94% solve rate on reportable offenses.