STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Safety
AGENDA DATE: January 11, 2023
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): N/A
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
EXECUTIVE: Jon Fortune
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SUBJECT
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Authorize the (1) application for and acceptance of a grant from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division for the Digital Forensic Lab Grant (Grant No. 4536301, CFDA No. 16.738) in the amount of $99,998.08 to provide more modern crime fighting response with respect to data and digital currency for the period October 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023; (2) establishment of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $99,998.08 in the Digital Forensic Lab Grant FY23 Fund; (3) receipt and deposit of grant funds in an amount not to exceed $99,998.08 in the Digital Forensic Lab Grant FY23 Fund; and (4) execution of the grant agreement and all terms, conditions, and documents required by the grant agreement with the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division - Not to exceed $99,998.08 - Financing: Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division State Grant Funds
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BACKGROUND
In order for the Dallas Police Department (DPD) digital forensic investigators to extract data from damaged or destroyed devices, locate individual items of evidence among vast quantities of data, and ensure their methods capture data reliably without altering it in any way, a world-class “one-stop shop” Digital Forensics Crime Laboratory is needed to alleviate barriers to achieving those goals and to providing comprehensive data to regional partners. A modernized approach is necessary as technology and data are part of every aspect of life, it’s also connected to nearly every crime.
With the requested funds, DPD will make one-time purchases of necessary digital forensics equipment that will modernize the Lab. A complete list of equipment can be found in the line item budget of the grant, but a sample of requested equipment includes: smart board, breakdown station, forensic desktops, tool chest, charging station for multiple USB devices, and forensic workbenches. With this equipment, DPD digital forensic officers will be able to complete multiple types of digital forensics, as outlined below:
Computer forensics: The DPD Digital Forensics Lab is currently capable of extracting and analyzing data from laptops and computer. The Digital Forensics Lab will expand this to an on-demand service to the Department with rush capability.
Mobile Device Forensics: The Lab has access to the Department’s Cellebrite license and Gray Key license as part of the general fund budget, which provides officers and investigators the capability of extracting data from mobile devices. If this grant is approved, the number of devices extracted will increase by an estimated 90 percent from FY 2019.
Vehicle forensics: The Lab will utilize the Berla iVe Software platform to extract vehicle data such as routes and GPS locations. Additionally, Berla iVe provides data related to contacts, call logs, SMS messages, unique identifiers, and media files from connected devices.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
The Public Safety Committee will be briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on January 9, 2023.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
Future Years |
|
Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division State Grant Funds |
$99.998.08 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |