Los Angeles Violent Crime Unit

FBI VCU

The **Los Angeles Violent Crime Unit** (LA-VCU) is a special investigative and tactical surveillance unit within the Los Angeles Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), it is part of the FBI's Violent Crime Unit program. The VCU investigates all manner of violent crime cases, as well as providing support to investigations related to violent crime, such as criminal enterprise, organized crime, and violent crimes against children cases that involve violent offenders or organizations, they also serve as an FBI warrant squad when the need arises. The LA-VCU currently has four teams: two investigative teams, one intelligence team and one support team.

## Supervisory Personnel

* Thomas Voight: Assistant Director in Charge of the Los Angeles Division
* Charlotte Baldwin: Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal/Cyber Division at the Los Angeles Field Office
* Donald Shrager: Unit Chief of the Violent Crime Unit

## Violent Crime Unit 1

* Donald Shrager: Supervisor/VCU Unit Chief
* Blake Cooper: Organized Crime Specialist
* Ryan Cahill: Gang/Criminal Intelligence Specialist
* Adam Reese: Technical/Cyber Specialist
* Mark Hansen: Transnational Organized Crime Specialist
* Katelyn Cameron: Forensic Accountant

## Violent Crime Unit 2

* Martin Howell: Supervisor/VCU Coordinator
* Samantha Collins: Public Integrity/Corruption Specialist
* Stephen Novak: Tactical Specialist/SWAT Operator
* Miranda Weiss: Intelligence Specialist/Analyst
* Lucas Keene: Cyber Crime/Counterintelligence Specialist
* Nicholas Briggs: Organized Crime Specialist
* Thomas McKenna: Surveillance/Intelligence Specialist

## Violent Crime Unit 3 (Intelligence)

* Damien Sawyer: Supervisor
* 2 to 3 Intelligence Analysts
* 2 to 3 Surveillance Personnel

## Violent Crime Unit 4 (Support)

* Natasha Larsen: Supervisor
* 4 to 5 Support Personnel
* 1 to 2 Technical Analysts

## Former VCU Personnel

* Raymond Larkin: 2010 to 2014
* Emma Stratton: 2007 to 2017
* Robert Yeager: 2010 to 2016

## VCU Information

VCU1 is a tactical surveillance and special investigative team and works the 6am to 6pm shift. VCU2 is a tactical surveillance and special investigative team and works the 6pm to 6am shift. VCU3 is an intelligence and surveillance team and has personnel available for either shift. VCU4 is a support and technical team and has personnel available for either shift. While not a requirement, agents of VCU1 and VCU2 usually specialize in a specific field of criminal enterprise or violent crime, all VCU1 and VCU2 personnel are full time. VCU3 and VCU4 draw personnel on an as needed basis and have different rotating personnel based on the shift and operational requirements.

Like most surveillance/tactical surveillance type units, the VCU uses various types of vehicles which are often sourced via federal civil forfeiture. The VCU and other surveillance units maintains a small fleet of vehicles which are used depending on the needs of the operation. These vehicles differ from the typical SUV's and sedans used by regular Bureau personnel so as to not draw attention in certain neighborhoods. While not necessarily SWAT operators, VCU field agents are given ongoing additional tactical training, and recruitment for the VCU always favors current or former SWAT operators, however this is not a requirement. Due to the nature of their role, VCU field agents are required to hold higher firearms proficiency and physical standards than regular field agents.