Alachua County Sheriff's Office

Criminal Intelligence Bureau

Lieutenant Don Tyson
(352) 367- 4154
dtyson@alachuasheriff.org

The Criminal Intelligence Bureau is comprised of the Crime Analysis Unit, the COMBAT Detective, the Criminal Intelligence Caseworker at the Jail, the Project Safe Neighborhoods Violent Crimes Intelligence Coordinator, the Firearms Detective, the Regional Domestic Security Task Force Detective, and the Forensics Unit.   These specialized Detectives, Investigators and Analysts work with other ACSO Bureaus and Divisions, and with other local, state and federal law enforcement partners to further investigations and prosecute cases to the fullest practical extent.

The overall supervision of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau is the responsibility of Lieutenant Don Tyson, the Bureau’s Commander.  Further questions can be directed to him at (352) 367-4154, dtyson@alachuasheriff.org. 

The Crime Analysis Unit consists of two Crime Analysts, a Detective and a Sergeant, who are responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of criminal intelligence information, in a useful format, to all operational components of the ACSO and to other law enforcement agencies.  This Unit also works closely with surrounding agencies in an effort to compare crime trends and related cases to accomplish the goal of reducing crime and making the community safer.  Further questions can be directed to Sergeant Shayne MacMahon at (352) 367-4157, amacmahon@alachuasheriff.org.

The COMBAT Detective (Career Offender Mapping, Ballistics and Tracing) works within the community and with other law enforcement agencies in our area, to track and monitor sexual offenders and predators, career offenders and firearms related issues and cases.  Contact Detective Mike Powers at (352) 367-4164, mpowers@alachuasheriff.org.

The Criminal Intelligence Caseworker at the ACSO Department of the Jail gathers intelligence from the jail population, for evaluation and dissemination to the area law enforcement community.  Contact Ken Hernberger at (352) 384-3036, khernberger@alachuasheriff.org.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Violent Crimes Intelligence Coordinator works directly with local and regional law enforcement agencies to provide intelligence to prevent violent crimes from occurring, especially those involving firearms.  Contact Farnell Cole at (352) 367-4159, fcole@alachuasheriff.org.
The first line supervision of the above personnel is the responsibility of Sergeant Shayne MacMahon at (352) 367-4157, amacmahon@alachuasheriff.org.

The Firearms Detective investigates offenses involving the illegal possession, trafficking, sales or purchases of firearms. This Detective routinely works with the Gainesville Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as well as other local law enforcement agencies. This cooperative effort often results in the federal prosecution of violent career criminals initially charged at the state level. This interaction between agencies also results in more firearm intelligence being gathered and disseminated between other Alachua County law enforcement agencies. Contact Detective Mike Kittel at (352) 367-4183, mkittel@alachuasheriff.org.

The Regional Domestic Security Task Force is a multi-disciplined group (Law Enforcement, DSTF/JTTF, Fire/Rescue, Communications, Campus Safety, Health/Medical, Emergency Management, Critical Infrastructure, Maritime Security and Public Information.) that covers 13 counties, including Alachua, Marion, Levy, Gilchrist, Union, Bradford, Baker, Clay, Putnam, St. John’s, Duval, Flagler and Nassau.  The Regional Headquarters for it’s Law Enforcement Component is at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in Jacksonville.

The ACSO Regional Domestic Security Task Force Detective works directly with the Region 3 DSTF in Northeast Florida.  Locally, our Detective assigned to this task force operates out of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the local FBI Office.  The law enforcement arm of the RDSTF is also part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) that operates out of the FBI headquarters in Jacksonville.  The JTTF covers 44 counties from Pensacola to Daytona, and is co-staffed by RDSTF members from other regions and partners from several federal agencies.  Also noteworthy is the fact that their cases are both domestic as well as international in nature.  Contact Lieutenant Don Tyson at (352) 367-4154, dtyson@alachuasheriff.org or Detective Jody Branaman at (352) 367-4196, jbranaman@alachuasheriff.org.

The direct supervisor of the Firearms Detective and Regional Domestic Security Task Force Detective is Lieutenant Don Tyson at (352) 367-4154, dtyson@alachuasheriff.org. 

The Forensics Unit Forensic Unit, consisting of five Crime Scene Investigators, a Latent Print Examiner an Identification Technician and a Sergeant, is responsible for the collection, documentation, and analysis of physical evidence identified at crime scenes. This unit processes and photographs crime scenes and associated evidence, assists in search warrants, autopsies, and provides testimony in depositions and trials.  Additionally, the Forensic Unit is responsible for maintaining the fingerprints of all persons arrested in Alachua County.  The Latent Print Examiner and Identification Technician process all requests for latent fingerprint comparisons, from not only our agency, but from the surrounding area agencies as well.  The Forensics Unit also conducts AFIS Fingerprint Searches.
AFIS is an acronym for Automated Fingerprint Identification System.  The AFIS system used at the Alachua County Sheriff's Office works through a link with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  Our system has two primary functions: One is the fingerprinting and searching of arrested subject's fingerprints. The other is searching latent fingerprint evidence from the scene of a crime. 

Law enforcement agencies may request a copy of a fingerprint/palm print card free of charge.  Fingerprint/palm print cards can be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed.  Copied fingerprint/palm print cards are stamped as a true copy of the original.   Call (352) 367-4088 when requesting fingerprints.

The first line supervision of the Forensics Unit is the responsibility of Sergeant Dan Gerard at (352) 367-4090, dgerard@alachuasheriff.org.

NOTE:  The Forensics Unit does not compose photo line-ups.  For mugshot requests, please contact the Department of the Jail at (352) 491-2969.