The Criminal Investigations Division is tasked with investigating crimes against persons and property throughout the City of Palmetto. These crimes include burglaries of residences, businesses and vehicles, robberies, grand thefts, aggravated assaults, battery, sex crimes, crimes against children, fraud and homicide. Detectives are assigned cases for follow-up once an Officer completes an initial report or sometimes a Detective may take an initial report themselves. There are occurrences where Detectives determine that a crime did not actually occur within our City limits. These cases are reclassified as unfounded or civil in nature. If the crime occurred in another jurisdiction, we will forward the investigation to the appropriate agency.
Our Detectives work closely with the State Attorney’s Office as well as other local, State and Federal agencies on investigations. Each of our Detectives attends local and regional intelligence meetings and each Detective is also assigned to a specialized multi-agency task force including:
• The Manatee County Homicide Unit
• Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force
• Drug Free Manatee’s Opioid Addiction Task Force
• Regional Unlicensed Contractor Task Force
• FDLE Regional CART (Child Abduction Response Team)
The Criminal Investigation Division believes in providing the best possible services to victims of crimes in the City of Palmetto. In order for many crimes to be solved, cooperation from the community is paramount. Individuals who have information on criminal activity are urged to come forward to assist us in protecting the community. In most circumstances, information can be given anonymously through several avenues.
Tips can be submitted via the Palmetto Police Department Facebook page, via telephone @ (941) 721-2000 or tips@palmettopolice.com or anonymously to Crimestoppers @ www.manateecrimestoppers.com, by calling 1-866-634-tips or by utilizing the P3 Crimestoppers of Manatee phone app. See the Crimestoppers website for more information on the phone app.