How to report a crime

  1. Report a Homicide
  2. Report Child Abuse
  3. Report Missing Child/Juvenile
  4. Report Missing Adult

To report a murder, please call 911. The dispatcher receiving the call will send a police officer to the scene. The following tips will be helpful to police officers when they arrive on the scene:

  • Don’t move or touch anything.
  • While waiting for the police, you should write down the license plate numbers of any vehicles you saw leaving the crime scene.
  • Make a note of any suspicious persons seen leaving the area.
  • When a police officer arrives, there will be a search for evidence, and you will be asked to provide any information you may have.

If you have additional information on a homicide, call the Aberdeen Police Department’s Detective Division at 605-626-4047 or the direct number for the detective assigned to the case.

What to Do If You're a Victim of a Crime

  1.  Assault
  2. Sexual Assault
  3. Domestic Violence
  4. Identity Theft
  5. Auto Theft
  6. Burglary or Theft
  7.  Robbery

If you are a victim of assault, please call 911 to report the crime as soon as possible to the Aberdeen Police Department.

 Process of Investigation

The investigating officer will ask the victim and any witnesses for details of the incident. Correct information is extremely important because it can assist in making a speedy arrest and help determine the type of criminal charges to be filed.

 The officer will take photographs of the injuries and ask that a voluntary written statement or a recorded audible statement be made by the victim and any witnesses.

 When the investigation is completed, if the officer has probable cause to arrest the suspect, the officer will take the suspect into custody and transport them to the Brown County Jail.

 The officer will then write a report and send it to the proper division where an officer from that division will review the case, contact the victim and any witnesses, file charges when possible, and do everything within reason to arrest the suspect (if not already in custody).

Resources

  1. Marsy's Law
  2. Safe Harbor
  3. Brown County Victim Assistance

Marsy's Law expands the definition of a victim and seeks to give crime victims meaningful and enforceable constitutional rights equal to the rights of the accused. Some examples of the types of rights are:

  • To be treated with dignity and respect throughout criminal justice proceedings
  • To be notified of his, her or their rights as a victim of crime
  • To be notified of specific public proceedings throughout the criminal justice process and to be present and heard during those proceedings

See all 19 rights on Marsy's Card.

South Dakota's Automated Notification System

The newly implemented Statewide Automated Notification System (SAVIN) is a free, automated service that provides crime victims with vital information and notification 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Victims can access the SAVIN website at https://savin.sd.gov/portal/ or contact the call center at 1-844-299-4608.