Criminal Investigations

Major Herman “Chuck” Whaley, Jr., 850-745-7181, has led the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office (SO) since January 6, 2017, and has had management oversight over the North Star Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force since its inception on May 1, 2019. Major Whaley holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology from Florida State University and has over 35 years of law enforcement experience at the local and federal level. Prior to employment with the Wakulla County SO, he served for 21 years as a Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At the DEA, he served in leadership positions beginning in December 2003, executive leadership positions beginning in March 2010, and was a career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) from May 2014 until he retired September 30, 2016. His SES positions included Deputy Chief Inspector of the Office of Professional Responsibility and Associate Special Agent in Charge. Prior to employment with the DEA, he served for 11 years with the Putnam County SO, the last two years as a supervisor.

The CID is comprised of Detectives, a Criminal Analyst, Victim Advocates, a Property/Evidence Custodian, and a Crime Scene Technician who professionally conduct thorough and complete criminal investigations; properly and transparently document investigative efforts; properly collect, preserve and dispose of evidence; deliver quality cases to the State Attorney’s Office and other prosecuting authorities; serve as professional, honest and honorable witnesses in depositions and court; manage sexual offenders, sexual predators and career offenders; and empower and educate victims of crime.

The North Star Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force (NSMDTF) is a task force charged with conducting drug enforcement work in adjoined counties geographically situated in the Big Bend / Central Panhandle area of North Florida, stretching from Gulf County in the west to Taylor County in the east. The NSMDTF is comprised of over two dozen full-time and part-time law enforcement personnel from over a dozen agencies who have been cross-deputized to operate throughout the region.

Captain Eddie Wester

Captain Wester is second in command of the CID and is the first-line supervisor of CID personnel. As such, he is responsible for assigning investigations to Detectives, reviewing investigative reports, and managing the investigations conducted by the CID. Captain Wester ensures CID personnel obtain results based on accurate and quantifiable measures of enforcement effectiveness, as well as their execution of the investigative strategies articulated in the CID Five-Year Strategic Plan.

Persons Crimes Unit

Detectives in this unit of the CID conduct investigations of reported crimes which involve the death, injury or abuse of adults or children. Detectives in this unit also manage the registered sexual offenders, sexual predators and career offenders who reside in Wakulla County to ensure their compliance with Florida Statutes. This involves the registration and address verifications of these offenders, and ensuring statutory-mandated community notification is made regarding the presence of sexual predators. These Detectives also investigate and arrest those offenders who violate the registration and residential requirements of their offender status.

For more information on Sex Offender Registration, please contact 850-745-7182

Property Crimes Unit

Detectives in this unit of the CID conduct investigations of reported crimes which involve the taking of money or property without the threat or use of force. Examples of the types of crimes investigated by these Detectives include, but are not limited to, burglary, motor vehicle theft, grand theft, and criminal mischief.

Financial Crimes Unit

Detectives in this unit of the CID conduct investigations of reported crimes which involve the taking of money or property through identity theft. Examples of the types of crimes investigated by these Detectives include, but are not limited to, fraudulent use of financial documents, forgery, uttering a forged document, and counterfeiting.

Narcotics Unit

Detectives in this unit of the CID enforce the controlled substance laws of the State of Florida and the United States and brings to the criminal justice system those individuals, organizations and principle members of organizations involved in the growing, manufacture, possession or distribution of controlled substances in or affecting Wakulla County, Florida. This most often involves the investigation and preparation for the prosecution of violators of controlled substance laws found in chapter 893 of the Florida Statutes. It also involves the seizure and forfeiture of assets derived from, traceable to, or intended to be used for illicit drug trafficking. The Narcotics Unit of the CID is committed to the coordination and cooperation with other local, state and federal law enforcement officials on mutual drug enforcement efforts. Narcotics Unit Detectives are also members of the North Star Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force (NSMDTF) and one serves as the first-line supervisor of the NSMDTF.

Intelligence Unit

Detectives and Criminal Analysts in this unit of the CID develop and exploit tactical and strategic intelligence. Tactical Intelligence includes such things as conducting database checks, conducting preliminary workups on the cases being assigned to the other specialized units within the CID; drafting and serving subpoenas; charting; and general research and case support for the other members of the CID. Strategic Intelligence includes such things as publishing intelligence bulletins, attending intelligence sharing meetings at other agencies, daily reviewing agency calls for service, being aware of cyclical events, reviewing incoming intelligence to determine the days and times during the week when criminal activity is most prevalent, locations where various types of crimes are being committed, and determining crime trends in Wakulla County so that predictive intelligence can be gleaned.

Crime Scene Unit

Crime Scene Technicians (CSTs) in this unit of the CID process crime scenes for evidence. CSTs are on call 24/7, 365 days per year, and are called to crime scenes to identify, document, photograph, collect, and package evidence in furtherance of criminal investigations. The CSTs have crime scene vehicle equipped with specialized equipment to assist with evidence collection. At the CID office, the CST further processes items collected from crime scenes utilizing specialized equipment.

Property/Evidence Unit
(850-745-7196)

The Property/Evidence Custodians in this unit of the CID receives, stores and disposes of property/evidence while maintaining the chain of custody for each item. When a member of the Wakulla County SO takes possession of property or evidence, an evidence label is attached bearing the case number, item number, and a bar code. The item is then submitted to the Property/Evidence Custodian along with a Property Receipt. When received, the bar code is scanned which adds the item to the inventory, and the item is stored in either the Impound Yard or in one of three vaults; one for general evidence, one for firearms, and one for “destruction prep” (items slated for destruction). One vault is equipped with a refrigerator and freezers (evidence such as blood and Sexual Assault Kits must be refrigerated), each of which have wireless temperature sensors that send an alert to certain CID employees of temperature variances. The Property/Evidence Custodian transports evidence to crime laboratories for analysis, returns and stores the items after analysis, conducts e-Trace checks on firearms, and regularly reviews cases to determine if items can be returned to an owner, destroyed, etc.

Victim’s Advocate Unit
(850) 745-7129

The Victim Advocates in this unit of the CID provide assistance on a 24 hour-a-day basis to victims and their families who may need on-scene or follow-up assistance. Victim Advocates inform victims of their rights under the law; assist victims with restraining orders; create safety plans; assist victims in filing applications for the victim’s compensation fund through the Attorney General’s Office of Victim Assistance to help with medical expenses, lost wages, counseling expenses, and funeral expenses; help prepare victims for court and provide court advocacy and accompaniment; provide information regarding the current status of criminal cases; and transport sexual violence victims to the appropriate facility for forensic medical examinations. The Victim Advocates are funded through a Victim of Crimes Act grant from the Department of Justice, passed through the Florida Attorney General’s Office. This funding comes from fines and forfeitures from criminal activity. The Victim Advocates provide emotional support for victims of crime in Wakulla County while assisting them in receiving any services they need related to their victimization. The Victim Advocates may be contacted by calling (850) 745-7129.