The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigators is comprised of sworn officers who have received extensive training in the documentation, collection and preservation of evidence. Training accomplished by our investigators include: Buried Bodies and Surface Skeletal Remains, Death Scene: A Forensic Entomology Workshop, Crime Scene Workshops, Science of Fingerprints, Latent Print Identification, Latent Fingerprints. 

Workshop of Cyanoacrylate Techniques, 

Shooting Incident Reconstruction, 

Forensic Photography, Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis with computer and 

numerous FDIAI training seminars to include 

Shoe and Tire Recovery, Explosive Devices,

Crime Scene Safety, Digital Photography,

Forensic Anthropology, Documentation of 

Blood Spatter, Blood Spatter Interpretation,

Crime Scene Reconstruction, and 

Evidence Presentation at Trial.

The responsibility of the Crime Scene Investigator includes examination of the scene of a crime, documenting the conditions present, and providing the investigators, attorneys and ultimately the jury, with an accurate depiction of the locations and relationships of items located within the scene. They determine the relevance of items within the scene and the evidentiary potential of the items as related to the crime under investigation. Crime Scene Investigators preserve and collect the items deemed potential evidence, as well as process the items of evidence that are not removable from the scene. These investigators deliver the evidence to the appropriate forensic examiner and then prepare a report detailing the actions taken at the crime scene.

The purpose of crime scene investigation is to help establish what occurred (crime scene reconstruction) and to identify the responsible person. The ability to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is oftentimes critical to both solving and prosecuting violent crimes. It is no exaggeration to say that in the majority of cases, the law enforcement officer who protects and searches a crime scene plays a critical role in determining whether physical evidence will be used in solving or prosecuting violent crimes.

Despite Hollywood’s portrayal, crime scene investigation is a difficult and time-consuming job. There is no substitute for a careful and thoughtful approach. An investigator must not leap to an immediate conclusion as to what happened based upon limited information but must generate several different theories of the crime, keeping the ones that are not eliminated by incoming information at the scene. Reasonable inferences about what happened are produced from the scene appearance and information from witnesses. These theories will help guide the investigator to document specific conditions and recognize valuable evidence.

The Criminal Investigations Division, or C.I.D., is under the command of Captain Jason Daffin and is responsible for investigating persons and property crimes occurring in Bay County. In addition to the investigation and prosecution of criminals, these professionals are responsible for crime scene investigations, administration of truth verification devices, gathering and compiling of criminal intelligence and evidence processing and storage. 

Sixteen investigators are assigned major crimes such as homicides, rapes robberies, and home invasions, as well as property crimes such as auto thefts, burglaries, and financial or fraud cases like pyramid schemes and credit card scams.

This division also includes investigators who work with the Gulf Coast Advocacy Center  and specialize in crimes against children, a unit that specialize in Domestic Violence crimes, investigators who focus on sexual offenders and predators and monitor internet traffic for offenders who target children. The Crime Scene Unit provides highly trained crime scene investigators, who gather and study evidence and present it in the courtroom at trial. 

Because of the advanced technology and training contained within this division, investigators are frequently asked to assist other municipalities with all aspects of crime investigations. The implementation of the Cold Case Squad (experienced investigators from area law enforcement agencies assigned to work unsolved homicides) has already seen several old murder cases solved and the unit continues to look at other unsolved cases.

The Criminal Investigations Division continues to work with local, state, and federal agencies as well as working hand in hand with the prosecutors office.

No one, not even someone you live with, has the right to hit you or threaten you with violence. There are laws to protect you. If you are being physically or sexually abused or threatened by a family or household member you may be a victim of domestic violence. You need not be married to the abuser or related to be protected under the law. Family or household member is defined as any spouse, former spouse, person related by blood or marriage, or any other household member who is or was living in the same household as you. In addition, the law also protects you from abuse by a person with whom you have a child in common. There is help! If you feel you are in immediate danger dial 911.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office Victim Advocate is available 24 hours, 7 days a week to assist those in need. If you or someone you know are in a domestic violence situation please contact Victim Advocate, Chevina Guilford at (850) 248-2125 or (850) 747-4700 after 5pm.

InVEST

The InVEST program is sponsored by a grant through the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

For more information on BCSO's InVEST team, please contact Inv. Ryan Nelson or Inv. Tracy Withrow of the Criminal Investigations Division at (850) 747-4700, Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.

Protection from Domestic Violence

If you have been abused physically or sexually, or have reason to fear you may become a victim of domestic violence, Florida law enables you to file for a Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence; it explains your situation to the judge and tells the court from whom you need protection. An Injunction For Protection is a court document that states a particular person must not have contact with another person. You are eligible for an Injunction for Protection if you have lived with the abuser at some time and were recently the victim of abuse and/or threatened with abuse by the abuser. 

To file for an injunction you may apply, in person, at the Bay County Courthouse located at 300 E 4th Street, Panama City, Florida 32401. You may also E-file at the following Turbo Court website.

Domestic Violence Resources

Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program

1824 W 15th Street, Panama City, Florida 32405 

(850) 763-0706

24-Hour Crisis Line

Toll Free 1-800-252-2597