San Diego County Sheriff's Department 2004 Annual Report

for Tomorrow.2004YEARIn ReviewCOLD CASE FORENSIC TEAM:The Sheriff’s Department Crime Lab is creating a multi-jurisdictionalCold Case Forensic Team to expand the lab’s DNA capabilities andto apply the technology to unsolved homicide cases.Partners in this effort include the Sheriff’s Department HomicideDetail, the Chula Vista Police Department, El Cajon Police Department,Oceanside Police Department, San Diego County District Attorney’sOffice and the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has authorized theuse of $838,434 in grant money from the U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice Programs and the California Department of Justiceto support the cold case team.The Sheriff’s Department and the other agencies possess largeamounts of evidence from a backlog of approximately 350 unsolvedhomicide cases countywide. In some instances, evidence from these“cold” cases has neither been examined in a forensic laboratory norsubject to the DNA technology that is available today.The value of applying current DNA analysis technology to oldcases has been demonstrated by several recent investigations. The1984 murder of Helena Greenwood remained unsolved for manyyears until DNA evidence resulted in the conviction of DavidFrediani. DNA evidence also resulted in the guilty plea of ByronThreat, the suspect in the 1995 murder of Laurie Osburn ofImperial Beach.Earlier this year, the Crime Lab created a group within the organizationto deal solely with cold homicide cases, with two criminalistsassigned full time. The grants make possible the addition oftemporary laboratory positions to aid the cold case team withevidence screening and DNA analysis, under the 2004 ForensicCasework DNA Backlog Reduction Program. The grants will alsohelp automate the processing of DNA, fund two temporary investigativepositions in the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail and pay overtimeor temporary investigative costs at the Chula Vista, Oceanside andEl Cajon Police Departments.REGIONAL LAWENFORCEMENT COORDINATIONCENTER (LECC):In 2004, we began exploring the feasibility of creating a RegionalLaw Enforcement Coordination Center in partnership with federal,state and other local law enforcement agencies. This program isintended to serve as a fusion center for incorporating commingledanalytical resources, to receive collected information, collate,analyze, validate and disseminate a finished intelligence product toagencies consistent with applicable statutes.REORGANIZE AND STAFFTHE CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT:In 2004, we took steps to greatly improve our ability to obtain,analyze and act upon timely crime indicator information, which iscritical to the deployment of law enforcement resources. Without thisinformation, station commanders are flying blind as they strive toaddress issue that affects their jurisdictions. We are in the processof reorganizing the Crime Analysis Unit to consist of one supervisorand six crime analysts, most of whom will be assigned to thestations and who will provide up to date crime reporting andmapping information.NEW RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMVendor selection was completed by mid-year and a contractwas signed on November 19th with CRISNet ® . CRISNet wassubsequently purchased by Motorola ® . The new systemimplementation plan includes a phased approach with a pilotimplementation at the Poway Station in August 2005. This newsystem will eliminate multiple redundant entry practices andenhance our crime analysis capabilities, bringing “real-time”information to those who need it most.