Suffolk County, NY - September 18, 2015 - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $95,585 in federal Department of Justice (DOJ) funding for Suffolk County Police through the FY15 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program. Specifically, the funding will help improve the Suffolk County Police Department’s Computer Crimes and Identification Sections, which performs forensic analysis on cellular and internet based devices and is responsible for latent print analysis done off photographs.
“We must do everything we can to ensure our law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to solve and keep our communities safe; This funding will do just that for the Suffolk County Police Department,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased that the Suffolk County Police Department’s Computer Crimes and Identification Sections will finally have the technology and training they need to better support efforts to keep our communities safe.”
“Protecting our families and communities is a top priority and this federal investment will help support police officers who keep the streets and neighborhoods in Suffolk County safe and secure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I will continue to push for funding to help get our police officers the resources needed to carry out their critical work more effectively.”
The Suffolk County Police Department is the only law enforcement agency in Suffolk County able to perform forensic analysis on cellular and internet based devices and is responsible for crime scene photography and latent print analysis at all Part 1 Violent Crime scenes. The Suffolk County Police Department’s Computer Crimes and Identification Sections has been struggling to maintain forensic analysis capabilities in the face of changing technologies, smarter criminals and small budgets. Specifically, the Computer Crimes section is unable to forensically process locked, password protected or broken cellphones and does not possess the training to do so. In addition, the Identification Section is operating with old and outdated cameras.
Schumer and Gillibrand today announced federal funding that will help improve the quality and timeliness of Suffolk County Police Department’s forensic output. Specifically, this funding will go towards the purchase of up-to-date forensic analysis equipment and training for SCPD Computer Crimes and Identification Systems, which will allow them the ability to access the data on locked, password protected or broken cellphones and other mobile devices.
The Department of Justice’s Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program awards grants to states and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services.