(CNS) Posted Wednesday January 5, 2011 – 5:52pm
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III and top Orange County law enforcement officers today toured a newly opened cyber-crime laboratory in Orange that will help hundreds of agencies in the Southern California area pool their resources to solve cases.
The crime-fighters at the ribbon-cutting at the Orange County Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory said the facility, which has been operational for about a month, will help them to team up more effectively to crack down on crimes involving computers.
“The growth of this kind of media has overwhelmed us,’ Mueller said, referring to crimes committed with computers, smart phones and other new technology.
“Our success depends on us working together,’ Mueller said, “and this is a perfect example of us coming together and how we’re far better off working together.’
The laboratory features dozens of computers and other technology that Orange County law enforcement agencies can use to analyze evidence in cyber crimes. The FBI will also train local officers to utilize the new technology.
Other perks will include paid overtime, courtesy of the FBI, and experts for court testimony.
In some cases, investigators from one Orange County city may find themselves helping colleagues from another agency. The laboratory will serve 250 law enforcement agencies within the Central District of California.
“We know this sharing of resources will help us protect the community and save lives,’ said Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
He noted that many crimes today involve some sort of computer evidence as gangs have started using wireless devices and the Internet and pedophiles “hide their pornography’ online.
“Major fraud cases tend to involve terabytes of information,’ Rackauckas said. “It’s a huge area where we need to stay a step ahead of the criminals.’
The county’s top prosecutor noted that many gang leaders are turning to white-collar crime such as mortgage fraud and identity theft because it offers “more money and less risk.’
As other forms of crime continue a downward trend, white-collar crime has been on the upswing, Rackauckas said.
“We need to work harder to stay on top of it,’ he said.
About 25 investigators will work out of the laboratory in Orange, Mueller said.
The effort to open the new lab and pool resources started in the basement of the District Attorney’s Office with six investigators, Mueller and Rackauckas said.
The FBI has a network of similar full-service forensics laboratories and training centers throughout the country, with the first one opening in San Diego in 2000, Mueller said.
Anaheim police Chief John Welter praised the laboratory because it boosts law enforcement at a time when police agencies have had to make significant budget cuts.
“Given the economy, we’re going to have to rely on leveraging our resources,’ Welter said. “There’s no way a local police department could afford this technology or the training.’
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Article source: http://bhcourier.com/article/Local_News/Local_News/FBI_Director_and_Top_OC_Leaders_Welcome_New_Cyber_Crime_Lab/73755
Category: Cyber Crime