Investigations The La Quinta Police Department Investigations section conducts investigations on all cases with either evidence possibly leading to the identity of the suspect or named suspects. Historically, Investigations units have been organized into two different divisions- Crimes Against Persons (Homicide, Robbery, Assaults, Sex Crimes, etc) and Crimes Against Property (Burglary, Grand Theft, Fraud and Forgery). In extremely large organizations, this system works well, but can lead to unequal caseloads and reduced effectiveness when a city is being hit hard by a particular crime type. In 2001, the Sheriff's Department created the Central Homicide Unit. This dramatically increased the number of personnel available to investigate homicides. The Central Homicide Unit consists of 16 Investigators, 3 Sergeants, 1 Lieutenant, and 1 Captain. Their only mission is to conduct homicide and suspicious death investigations. The La Quinta Police Dept. Investigators assist the Central Homicide Unit when needed. One of the many cases solved by this unit was the La Quinta Sculpture Park murder of Bernardo Guthier in 1997. Four suspects in that case currently are awaiting trial in the Indio Superior Court. Since the creation of the Central Homicide Unit, the La Quinta Police Department's Investigations Division has been reorganized to better address the crime trends within the City of La Quinta. La Quinta's Investigation cases generally fall into the following crime divisions (generally grouped by case volume): Property Crimes (Burglary and Theft), Financial (Check and Credit Card Fraud, Identity Theft), Persons (Assaults, Robbery, Elder Abuse), and Child Abuse (Sexual Abuse and Physical). Each Investigator is assigned to a particular crime division, but is cross-trained to assist in other areas when needed. SR. INVESTIGATOR ROBERT NAGLES Law Enforcement Experience 22 years Investigations Experience: 6 years Past Assignments: Patrol, Special Teams City of Palm Desert and Field Training Officer Current Assignment: Sexual Assaults and Child Abuse INVESTIGATOR TOM LEE Law Enforcement Experience: 21 years Investigations Experience: 2 year Past Assignments: Indio Jail, Field Training Officer, Special Teams in the City of Palm Desert, School Resource Officer and Police Activities League President Current Assignment: Financial Crimes INVESTIGATOR JOE QUINTERO Law Enforcement Experience: 16 years Investigation Experience: 2 years 9 months Past Assignments: Indio Court Services, Patrol, Special Teams Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District, and School Resource Officer for C.V.U.S.D. Current Assignment: Sexual Assault and Crimes against Children INVESTIGATOR TUEY PAIYARAT Law Enforcement Experience: 23 years Investigations Experience: 16 years Past Assignments: Patrol, Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team, County Target Team, Special Investigations Bureau- Narcotics Current Assignment: General Investigations INVESTIGATOR DENISE WARD Law Enforcement Experience: 7 ½ years Investigations Experience: 1 year Past Assignments: Patrol Corporal, Field Training Officer, and Special Teams in the City of Palm Desert. Current Assignment: Sexual Assaults and Child Abuse Investigations INVESTIGATOR JORGE PINON Law Enforcement Experience: 22 years Past Assignments: Coachella Valley Narcotics Task Force, The Allied Riverside Cities Narcotic Enforcement Team, and the Special Investigations Bureau East and West

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