Enhancing Capabilities of the Forensic Electronic Media Unit (FEMU) for Case Backlog Reduction by Streamlining of the Workflow for Mobile Device Extractions

The Tucson Police Department (TPD) is the largest police agency in southern Arizona and serves the City of Tucson. The Tucson Police Department Crime Laboratory (TPDCL) is a full-service, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited crime laboratory providing forensic testing services in digital and multimedia evidence through its Forensic Electronic Media Unit (FEMU).

Over the last few years, FEMU has seen a steady increase in requests for examination of digital evidence, particularly requests to perform mobile device extraction. Since 2019, FEMU has experienced attrition of key personnel; and although those vacancies have been filled, the volume of incoming mobile devices has outpaced what the existing staff can examine while still working analytical cases from the backlog and simultaneously training three new Criminalists (Digital Forensic Examiners) in the disciplines of computer forensic analysis, mobile device analysis, and digital video recovery.

FEMU is proposing to hire two entry-level Digital Forensic Examiners (Criminalist I positions) who would focus solely on incoming mobile device extraction requests for the duration of the grant, thus allowing the existing FEMU personnel to complete active training programs and address the current backlog of analytical casework. Grant funding would also be utilized to furnish the grant-funded Criminalists with the necessary forensic workstation hardware and accessories, software licenses, external training course, and certifications to perform mobile device extraction casework.

Addressing the influx of mobile device extraction cases and the current backlog of analysis cases will improve both the quality and the timeliness of forensic service at the TPDCL, while ultimately increasing public safety in the City of Tucson.