FWPD receives grant to boost forensic work

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Fort Wayne Police Department has received a grant to improve its forensic services.

The Office of Justice Programs awarded the department a Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant in the amount of $144,347. The funds will help the agency improving timeliness and quality of digital forensic services, and reduce its backlog of evidence by 64.5% in mobile examinations, 58.93% in computer examinations, and 88.27% in video examinations.

The Office of Justice Programs has awarded millions of dollars to departments across the country in support of forensic activities. 

“The Fort Wayne Police Department continues to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of digital evidence and will continue to invest in the training and certification of our detectives and a Counterdrug Intelligence Analyst in the extraction of memory from mobile devices through UFED Cellebrite,” said Chief Steve Reed.

Universal Forensic Extraction Device is used to extract both physical and logical data from mobile devices like cellular phones and other mobile devices. It will aid the digital forensic laboratory with the examination of digital multimedia evidence in narcotics cases and use software and training to combat the opioid abuse crisis with grant funds.

“I continue to be encouraged by the proactive efforts of the Fort Wayne Police Department,” said Mayor Tom Henry. “Being recognized by the federal government to receive this grant will enhance our public safety capabilities and provide additional opportunities for us to make a lasting and meaningful impact to help ensure Fort Wayne is the safest city possible.”

The Fort Wayne Police Department’s forensic staff includes three detectives with 57 years of combined law enforcement experience. The unit is responsible for examining all digital multimedia evidence items for the FWPD, federal agencies, and other agencies in 11 northeast Indiana counties.