AG, university celebrate partnership

By Holli Keaton (Contact) | Troy Messenger

Published Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Alabama Attorney General Troy King wanted to make a few things clear when he visited Troy University’s campus Monday morning — at the front, awareness.

“I came here today to tell all the people of Alabama that watch CSI, our state is on the cutting edge of technology,” King said in a press conference led by him and University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. “Second, to let law enforcement know the education availability we have here for people to be trained.”

In 2007, Troy University officially partnered with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in efforts to fight cyber crime and assist law enforcement in deciphering forensic evidence.

That partnership was enhanced when the university’s Information Technology Department was awarded a grant from the U.S. Justice Department for the development of a Forensics Institute.

Monday, the two celebrated that partnership.

“Together our efforts are stronger,” King said. “All of Alabama should sleep easier tonight knowing these (technologies) are available.”

In the university’s Forensics Institute, staff of the IT Department are able to assist the ABI, attorney general and other law enforcement agencies in deciphering electronic evidence, said Chief Technology Officer Greg Price.

In the lab, Price said the staff is able to recover deleted information from cell phones, computers and digital and video forensics.

Price said he doesn’t track how many cases that have been solved or closed, but the department has processed more than 300 pieces of evidence just this year.

Much of the work the university does is assisting in fighting cyber crimes against children.

Aside from deciphering evidence, the university’s forensics lab also serves as a place of training for law enforcement.

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