Watertown Police Department Highlights the Inner Workings of the Criminal Investigation Division
- Steve Jurrens
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a recent sit-down interview with Northeast Radio SD, Captain Steve Rehorst and Detective Jesse Alvarado of the Watertown Police Department offered an inside look into the operations, challenges, and motivations behind the department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
The CID serves as an “umbrella” for several critical areas of law enforcement, including the school resource officers (SROs), the SWAT team, the crime scene team, evidence management, and background investigations. Captain Rehorst, who oversees the division, emphasized the importance of a dedicated team of four detectives and a detective sergeant to handle complex cases that extend beyond patrol officers’ initial response.
“We don’t want to pull those officers off the streets to work on a 70-hour investigation,” said Captain Rehorst. “It’s nice having [CID] because when you have a major crime, it can get... a little bit more work and investigation.”
A Day in the Life: The Role of a Detective
Detective Jesse Alvarado, one of the four detectives in the division, shared that his daily routine is far from predictable. His specialty often involves cases with language barriers, utilizing his bilingual skills to bridge the gap within the Latino community. He also works closely with Child’s Voice, a child advocacy center, to manage sensitive evaluations for minors.
Handling a case load that fluctuates between six and twenty open investigations at any given time, Alvarado noted that the job requires a careful balancing act and a strong focus on victim safety.
“It’s just a back-and-forth thing. There’s not one day that I’m just focused on one case,” Alvarado explained. “I might be looking into two or three cases in one day. You just go with it.”
Proactive Policing and Community Ties
Both officers stressed the department’s shift toward proactive policing—preventing crime before it happens through community outreach and relationship-building. Captain Rehorst spoke about the SROs’ role in Watertown’s high school and middle school, which he likened to “mini-cities” with over 1,700 students combined.
“The theory is... the community would much rather not see that crime happen to begin with. That’s where you get into the proactive policing,” Rehorst said. “We’re just one spoke on that wheel for keeping the community safe.”
Rehorst, who will mark 23 years on the force this July, says that saving lives remains the ultimate highlight of his career. Whether through CPR or by intervening in dangerous situations, knowing that his actions made a difference motivates him to keep going.
Modernizing Outreach
The Watertown Police Department is also expanding its digital footprint to better connect with the youth. In addition to their active Facebook presence, the department has recently launched accounts on Instagram and TikTok.
“I don’t know if I’m doing that right either—my kids haven’t told me either way yet,” joked Captain Rehorst. “But we’re going to give it a shot. I think it’s important to stay involved in the community, keep them up to date, and have that transparency of what we’re doing.”
The community can look forward to several upcoming events this summer, including DASH (Drug-Free Alcohol-Free Safe and Healthy) youth events, community 5Ks, and a return of the home-run derby.
