Bureau of Investigations

DAVE SAUNDERS, Chief Investigator LAURA CLEAVES, Senior Investigator JEFF FREDERICKS, Senior Investigator JIM NALLS, Senior Investigator DAVE TONELLO, Senior Investigator

The Bureau includes 28 full-time staff, with 22 being sworn peace officer investigators. These include the Chief Investigator, four Senior Criminal Investigators, who supervise various units with the Bureau, and Criminal Investigators assigned to the Criminal Division. This also includes one Senior and seven Welfare Fraud Investigators. The remaining staff includes six Senior Investigative Assistants. These personnel are assigned to various functions and are stationed among the three District Attorney offices located in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the Bureau of Investigation is to provide quality and timely investigation and support for the prosecutorial functions of the Office of the District Attorney. Generally, the Bureau conducts follow-up investigations on cases submitted to the District Attorney by local law enforcement agencies and other county departments, such as serious felony cases, homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, gang cases, narcotics, insurance fraud, career criminal prosecutions, arson, child abduction investigations, and other major cases. District Attorney Investigators also assist other law enforcement agencies, upon request, where assistance, manpower, or additional expertise may be desired.

However, the Bureau also assumes original jurisdiction and is the primary investigative agency in a wide variety of cases including (but not limited to): abuse of judicial process (perjury, witness intimidation, falsification of evidence, conspiracy to obstruct justice), welfare fraud, non-sufficient checks, parental child abductions, Brown Act violations, Election Code violations, crimes committed by public officials, Fair Political Practices Act violations, Corporation Code violations, environmental health violations, high-tech crime, and so on.

Categories of Investigative Programs

Major sections of the investigative division include:

• Criminal Investigations Bureau
• Welfare Fraud Unit
• Bad Check Enforcement Unit
• Child Abduction Unit
• Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud Unit