The primary function of the detective bureau is to do the follow up investigation that is started by the patrol. The detectives work closely with many agencies that include all Federal, State, County and Local law enforcement. In Bergen County the Prosecutor's Office assist and in most instances take control of major cases such as homicide, rape, arson, etc. At all times they include the local agency from start to finish. The Prosecutor's Office provides the personnel, whose expertise can be sexual assault, narcotics, or any other nature that small departments cannot provide. Another department that the detective bureau works closely with is the Bergen County Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department provides local departments with their Bureau of Criminal Identification. These officers respond to crime scenes and do most of the work that includes photography and locating fingerprints. Once they secure fingerprints, they have the ability to match them to other cases throughout the county or state. On a majority of the cases the detectives will gather evidence, take statements and pursue the case using whatever resouces are available to them. One of the main responsibilities of the detective is to gather and maintain all evidence in a case; all evidence gathered must be labeled and secured until the case is complete.

The Little Ferry Police Detective Bureau consists of Lt. Frank Novak and Det. Craig Hartless all with many years of experience. The two detectives attened numerous schools to assist them in their duties. The schools include crime scene investigation, computer crimes, narcotics, and numerous other classes that will better equip them to do their job. These two detectives have additional specialties within the department and they will be addressed in the FYI section. Unlike the patrol, detectives work a different schedule and there is always a detective on call twenty-four hours a day.