Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure Economic Crimes Unit		Effective Date: 11/7/2014
	Policy Number: PP-8211

 1.  The Economic Crimes Unit provides initial and follow-up investigation in financial crimes and other classes of criminal offenses as they may be assigned.

2.  No field patrol unit shall be dispatched to take a financial crimes report unless the suspect is on scene.  Exceptions will be made if the victim is elderly or disabled, or if there is evidence on scene. 

3.  If the crime has just occurred, information on the suspect should be aired to include vehicle description and direction of travel.  Victims of financial crimes not in progress should be referred to the Investigative Technician for the Economic Crimes Unit.  

4.  Initial fraudulent check and forgery reports may be handled by the investigative technician assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit (during normal business hours), by the Desk Agent, or by PATROL SUPPORT TECHNICIAN personnel. 
               
a.If a Lakewood citizen or merchant comes to the police station to report a financial crime after hours, the desk agent or Patrol Support Technician shall handle the initial report.  A detective or technician will handle subsequent follow-up.                 

5.The following procedural restrictions have been placed on the acceptance/prosecution of cases involving forged checks and/or issuance of a bad check.              

a.  No check shall be accepted/prosecuted unless either a valid Colorado driver's license or identification card has been presented by the suspect and the identification numbers are recorded on the check. 

b.  Out of state identification cards or drivers licenses may be used only IF:
                   
1. The acceptor personally knows the identity and local residence or employment of the suspect, and;
2. There is at least one other form of supplemental identification recorded on the check or;
3. The acceptor has obtained a legible, inked fingerprint or thumbprint of the suspect.

c.  No check shall be accepted/prosecuted until the recipient shows evidence that they have attempted to contact the passer by registered or certified mail or has done so in person.  This does not apply to items returned by a financial institution as "forged - counterfeit."

d.  No personal check shall be accepted for investigation unless the suspect actually signed the check in the presence of the victim (or their employees). 

e.  No postdated checks shall be accepted or prosecuted nor will those where the victim has agreed to hold the check for a period of time before submitting it to the bank.

f.  No stop - payment checks shall be accepted or prosecuted unless criminal intent can be shown. 

g.  No two party checks shall be accepted or prosecuted. 

h.  No checks shall be accepted or prosecuted unless the reporting party is willing to give up the original document. 

i.  No checks drawn on out - of - state banks shall be accepted or prosecuted unless the amount of the check or circumstances of the case justify the expense of bringing out - of - state witnesses to court.

j.  No checks shall be accepted or prosecuted unless the person who received the check is known and available for court testimony. 

k.  No checks shall be accepted or prosecuted unless the amount of the check(s) exceeds $500.00. 

l.  No checks shall be accepted or prosecuted wherein the circumstances of the transaction amount to an extension of credit or other type of civil obligation (i.e., where there is no immediate exchange of goods). 

m.  No check shall be accepted or prosecuted if the victim has authorized and received partial restitution. 

n.  No check shall be accepted or prosecuted unless presented for investigation no later than 60 days following issuance. 

o.  No check shall be accepted or prosecuted wherein the check was issued for an installment payment on a credit account, a second bad check issued to cover an original bad check, civil contracts, extensions of credit, gambling losses, or checks for rent unless it is the first month's rent.

p.  No "starter checks" will be accepted; the name and physical address of the suspect must be pre-printed by the bank on the check for it to be accepted for intake. 

q.  Fraud by Check and Issuance of a Bad Check less than $5,000 may be referred to the District Attorney's Bad Check Restitution Program. 
                   

(1)  Forgery cases shall remain the investigative responsibility of the Lakewood Police Department.   

PP-8212 - Identity Theft