Special Investigation Bureau

The Special Investigations Bureau consists of a Sergeant and undercover detectives that work on three types of crimes; Vice, Narcotics and Gangs.

VICE

The Vice unit of the Special Investigation Bureau is responsible for investigations relating to Alcohol Beverage Control, Pornography, Internet crimes related to Pornography, Prostitution, permitting and enforcement of Bars, Massage Parlors, Escort Services, Gambling etc. The Vice Unit can be contacted anonymously at 714-536-5991 .

NARCOTICS

The Huntington Beach Police Department Narcotics Unit consists of six narcotics detectives and one sergeant. The Narcotics Unit enforces narcotics laws, handles citizen complaints regarding narcotics, serves narcotics search warrants and handles all narcotic related asset forfeiture. The Narcotics Unit depends on the citizens of Huntington Beach to provide information regarding possible narcotic activity in their neighborhoods. If you have suspicions about one (or more) of your neighbors, here are indicators to look for:

NARCOTIC ACTIVITY INDICATORS

  1. HEAVY TRAFFIC - Cars and pedestrians stopping at a home for only brief periods. Traffic may be cyclical, increasing on weekends or late at night, or minimal for a few weeks and then intense for a period of a few days - particularly pay days.

  2. EXCHANGES OF MONEY - Cash and packets traded through windows, mail slots, or under doorways.

  3. LACK OF FAMILIARITY - Visitors appear to be acquaintances rather than friends.

  4. PEOPLE BRING "VALUABLES" INTO THE RESIDENCE - Visitors regularly bring televisions, bikes, VCR's, cameras, and leave empty handed.

  5. ODD CAR BEHAVIOR - Visitors may sit in the car for a while after leaving the residence or may leave one person in the car while the other visits. Visitors may also park around a corner or a few blocks away and approach on foot.

  6. "LOOKOUTS" - Frequently these will be younger people who tend to hang around the area during heavy traffic hours.

  7. REGULAR ACTIVITY DURING EXTREMELY LATE HOURS - For example, frequent commotion between midnight and 4:00 A.M. on weeknights. (Both cocaine and methamphetamine are stimulants and users tend to stay up at night)

  8. VARIOUS OBVIOUS SIGNS - This may include people exchanging small packets for cash, people using drugs while sitting in their cars, syringes left in common areas or on neighboring properties, or other paraphernalia lying around.

  9. FAILURE TO MEET RESPONSIBILITIES - Failure to pay utility bills or rent, failure to maintain, or general damage to, the property. Some dealers smoke or inject much of their profits , and as they get more involved in the drugs, they are more likely to ignore bills, maintenance and housekeeping.

  10. APPEARANCE: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office created a web page which demonstrates the effects of methamphetamine use on the body.

If you suspect one (or more) of your Huntington Beach neighbors is selling narcotics, please notify the Huntington Beach Police Department Narcotics Unit. You can simply call (714)536-5981. When notifying the Narcotics Unit of suspected narcotic activity, it is very helpful if you leave your name and phone number, HOWEVER, it is not mandatory. Also, please include as much information as possible on the suspected seller, the location where the selling is taking place, and the type of activity which is occurring.

GANGS

The Gang section of the department consists of two investigates that handle all gang related crimes. The goal of the Gang detectives is to identify, categorize gangs, gang members, active parolees and their activities. A Gang Member is defined by:

A group of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose and engage in acts injurious to public health to public health and public morals; who pervert or obstruct justice of the due administration of laws, or engage in (or have engaged in) criminal activity, either individually or collectively; and who create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the community.

A Gang Associate is identified when:

When there are strong indications that an individual has a close relationship with a gang but does not fit the above criteria.

Four primary gangs which exist in Huntington Beach are "South Siders", "Skin Heads", "PeckerWoods" and "Nazi Low Riders".