Who is a sworn member of a police department responsible for the follow-up investigation of crime?

• A. Detective
• B. Patrol Officer
• C. Sergeant
• D. Investigator

Answer: (A)

The key idea is identifying the role dedicated to pursuing crimes beyond the initial response. A detective is the sworn officer typically assigned to follow-up investigations, using expertise to examine evidence, interview victims and witnesses, develop leads, and build a case for prosecution. This contrasts with the patrol officer, whose primary duty is immediate response, scene safety, and routine patrols, rather than conducting in-depth investigation over time. A sergeant is a supervisory rank and may oversee investigations, but the hands-on, ongoing follow-up work is the detective’s specialty. While an investigator can be a sworn title in some departments, the standard expectation in most police structures is that the individual responsible for continuing and solving the investigation is the detective.