The Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for the prevention, detection, and investigation of crime, and its work often complements the work of patrol officers. Detective work is specialized, usually encompassing the examination and evaluation of evidence to apprehend suspects and to build solid cases against them. The division ensures that each case is a solid, high-quality investigation, conducted in a timely manner and that each investigation is handled efficiently, with dedication and professionalism.
We have one Evidence Technician, Rachel David. Her phone is 406-447-8468. Rachel may be reached by email at: helenapolicedepartment@helenamt.gov. She only has property that has been recovered within the city limits. Please contact her regarding your property that she may have.
Please Note: Property will only be released on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. by appointment only.
Evidence Release Request
Found Property:
If there is something listed that may be yours, please contact our Evidence Technician. You must have some kind of proof that the property belongs to you. After 90 days of being posted these items will be disposed of.
Found Property: (posted 3-13-23):
Detective Corporal Nathan Casey is assigned as a general detective with an emphasis on financial crimes. This includes elder exploitation, forgeries, issuing bad checks, and identity theft. Cpl. Casey also oversees all the missing person cases reported to the Helena Police Department. As a general detective, Cpl. Casey investigates a wide variety of cases, including homicides, felony assaults, sex crimes, and property crime.
Cpl. Casey can be reached at (406)447-8489 during regular business hours or by email.
McLean Peterson is our General Detective with an emphasis on property crimes. This includes robberies, felony thefts, burglaries, and aggravated burglaries. Also included in his assigned duties are assisting on missing person cases and violent crimes (i.e., homicide, aggravated assault and sex crimes) along with crime scene processing.
Detective Peterson can be reached at: 406-447-8471 during regular business hours or by email.
Jon Cook is the detective assigned to the Lewis and Clark County Attorney’s Office. The primary role of the County Attorney Liaison Detective is to assist prosecuting attorneys with investigation through the court process for Helena Police Department cases.
Detective Cook may be reached at 406-457-8812 during regular business hours or by email.
Detectives investigate crimes related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (Child Pornography), child exploitation, and solicitation of children by electronic means. Associate members of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force work with federal and state agencies and local agencies throughout the state.
Detective Corporal Kent Anderson is our MATIC Detective. This program builds relationships between local law enforcement agencies and the Montana Analysis & Technical Information Center (MATIC). Tying together intelligence relating to criminal activity that can be shared and developed by MATIC analysts and then distributed to all of our Montana law enforcement community.
Corporal Anderson can be reached at 406-444-1319 during regular business hours or by email.
The Helena Police Department has an officer assigned to the Missouri River Drug Task Force. This officer is part of a collaborative federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify, target, and address those involved in drug trafficking, manufacture, and/or violence.
Detective Steven Cornish is the Violence Against Women Detective. VAWA investigations typically include domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and sexual intercourse without consent. This detective will also investigate cases related to sex crimes in general.
Detective Cornish can be reached at 406-447-8828 during business hours or by email.
The Helena Police Department is a member of the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which is comprised of other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
HIDTA works cooperatively with these other agencies in the investigation and enforcement of illegal narcotic drug laws.
Crime Stoppers is a civilian, nonprofit, charitable organization that brings together in a relationship, the police, the media, and the community in the fight against crime. People with information about crimes can report to Crime Stoppers anonymously and depending on the information, may receive a cash rewards.
You may view the Crimestoppers web page for more information.
Sergeant Adam Shanks Commander in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division 406-447-8829 Email