Flagler Sheriff Launches New Digital Forensics Unit

Bunnell, FL - After having to rely on other agencies to evaluate digital evidence, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) announces that they have created a new Digital Forensics Unit. In the past, the FCSO used the Sheriff’s Offices in St. Johns and Seminole County to process any kind of digital evidence. But, Corporal Mark Moy of the Major Case Unit pioneered a new initiative to bring a Digital Forensics Unit in-house in order to save time and resources. With their own in-house unit, FCSO can provide quicker turnaround times on examining evidence and lessens costs by reducing manpower spent traveling to other counties. “Nowadays every criminal leaves some sort of digital footprint behind after they commit a crime,” Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Now if we have a homicide, a rape, or a serious domestic violence incident, our Digital Forensics Team is able to join our Real Time Crime Center and work simultaneously to create a timeline of events leading up to the crime as well as analyzing digital evidence almost immediately." The Sheriff’s Office was able to make the unit a reality thanks to a grant from the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV). The unit will be responsible for examining computer-related items used in any crimes committed within Flagler County.