The Robbery unit investigates reports of taking money or property from someone by force or threat. As with the burglary unit, its role is to identify and arrest criminal suspects and to identify serial patterns within its jurisdiction.
The Gang Unit investigates cases involving gang-related crime. This includes offences committed to gain gang membership or those committed by one gag against a rival gang. It also includes cases where the defendant, victim, and/or witnesses are known gang members.
The Vice unit is typically assigned to investigate cases where gambling and prostitution are the primary concern. The vice unit is proactive, rather than a reactive unit, and will use undercover and sting operations to identify and apprehend those involved.
The Narcotics Unit investigates cases involving those suspected of illegally selling, buying, and possessing dangerous drugs. Its roles are to identify and arrest individual criminal suspects and to identify and seek to disrupt any organized criminal networks associated with these crimes.
The sex crime unit is assigned to investigate any serious/felony complaint or report involving a sex crime. This includes those involving adults, children, and victims of either sex.
The homicide unit is assigned to investigate or assist with the investigation of any crime that involves a violent or suspicious death. However, it may also be assigned to cases where death is not immediate but anticipated.
The crime scene/evidence unit may be attached to a government crime lab or the responding police agency. They may be civilian or sworn employees and are not sent out to every crime scene in every case.
The cold case unit is assigned to unsolved homicide cases that have experienced an extensive period of investigative inactivity. Sometimes this involves experienced investigators.
The anti-crime unit is composed of patrol officers assigned to patrol in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles. It is responsible for patrolling in high crime areas and effecting street-level arrest of suspects for crimes in progress.
Ideally, this is based on a needs assessment in which the initial specifics of the crime or complaint dictate the units that will respond and take charge.