The Homicide Bureau investigates murder and related crimes against persons throughout the entire Metroplex area, including the suburbs that may have their own police departments. In the late 1990s the ability to close major crimes due to interdepartmental disagreements, and poor communication between departments in several multiple murders forced a consolidation agreement as an alternative to proposed legislation that would turn all major crimes investigations over to the State Bureau of Investigation.

The Investigation Sciences Bureau contains several specialized units that provide support to the investigative bureaus. These specialized units include:

• Crime Scene Command and Control (CSCC) - Detective Sergeants who manage all aspects of a major crime scene including evidence logging and specialist assignments. The scene must be released by CSCC before any portion of the scene may be disturbed by non-ISB personnel. Once released, the scene becomes the purvey of the appropriate investigative bureau. In BSMPD any officer involved shooting is managed as a major crime.
• Crime Scene Forensics (CSF) - crime scene technician specialists - forensic chemistry and trace evidence
• Biological Forensics Unit (BFU) - DNA, Decomposition, and other Biological specialties
• Toxic Substances Unit (TSU) - Specialists in poisons, biological agents, and other toxins
• Weapons and Tools Unit (WTU) - Specialists in ballistics, firearms, and tool marks
• Fingerprint Analysis Unit (FAU) - Latent print specialists
• Imaging Forensics Unit (IFU) - Specialists in photographic, audio and other digital and imaging sciences
• Quality Control Unit (QCU) - verification and process quality controls