SeriouslySearching
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2007
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You would think this to be true. Yet in case after case I have watched as LE dropped the ball and did not process such evidence or missed vital evidence due to inexperience.I really don't think sleuthers need to be concerned whether LE, including experts from the FBI, know to thoroughly investigate a case and look for digital evidence. These people are the professionals and this is their job. Experts are consulted in partnership. The FBI in particular has dedicated facilities and experts for just digital and telephonic evidence. Most police departments have the ability to extract the contents of cell phones and computer hard drives. Just for prosecuting drug crimes they'd need the ability to look for and find electronic/digital evidence. For some reason assumptions are often made that LE doesn't know how to do their job, which I never understand.
People believe LE agencies across the country have such capabilities, but many do not have the funding it takes and they will not bring in the FBI to take advantage of their experts and labs. When I found our police department (in a city of 400,000 people) took commercial surveillance videos to the television station to pull a still shot to be used to ID suspects...it changed my view of how sophisticated their equipment is inhouse and their capabilities.