Rapid DNA for Sevierville Police Department

The Sevierville Police Department proposes to implement the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grant Program by the purchase and use of a rapid DNA machine for DNA analysis in criminal investigations. The purpose is to incorporate DNA as a commonly used tool in order to identify suspects, close cases, and prosecute violators. As violators have become more accustomed to hiding their faces and taking steps to prevent leaving fingerprints, law enforcement must continue to adapt investigative techniques to solve crimes. DNA has recently proven to be a valuable tool not only in cold cases but in active investigations as well. DNA can come in both micro amounts (i.e. skin cells) and amounts visible to the naked eye (i.e. blood, body fluid, etc.) and is therefore found at nearly every crime scene. 

Project activities include establishing a base mode of operation for the rapid DNA machine at the Sevierville Police Department with approved and appropriate uses, development of a database for samples collected, and appropriate practice for using collected field samples in investigations for prosecution. A Sevierville Police Department policy will grant investigators the ability to collect crime scene DNA evidence, personal DNA evidence by consent, and personal DNA evidence by judicial search warrant to use in investigations. Sevierville Police Department intends to offer assistance to surrounding community departments to improve success and prosecution in Sevier County and even district-wide in the use of DNA on crime scenes and with suspects. 

The top goal and objective for this project is to decrease the amount of violent and high dollar crime in the area by increasing the solvability of cases worked and to show success in investigation and prosecution of violators. The specific expected outcome in this project is to develop an in-house DNA database related to criminal investigations to assist in solving and closing investigations whether by exclusion sample or prosecution using the collected DNA evidence in support of other evidence gathered in the investigation. The beneficiaries of the project will clearly be the community and public at-large as the rapid DNA system will allow the department to identify suspects of more expensive and/or violent crimes committed in the area and follow up identification with prosecution.