It is the policy of the Dubuque Police Department to use all proven legal means and methods to prevent and to solve crimes. To that end, the High-Tech Crime Initiative and Computer and Digital Forensic Examinations are available within parameters. The Dubuque Police Department proactively investigates computer and other high-tech related crimes.
With the evolution of the High-Tech Crimes Initiative and the inception of digital evidence and cell phone forensics, the Computer Forensics Lab will be identified as the Digital Evidence Forensic Laboratory. Inside of the High-Tech Crimes Initiative is the Digital Evidence Forensic Laboratory.
The High-Tech Crimes Initiative is primarily responsible for education, assisting and conducting investigations of high-tech crimes, where the Digital Evidence Forensic Laboratory is the actual laboratory facility that will process digital evidence.
The purpose of a computer and digital forensic examination is to examine and analyze computer and digital evidence for the purpose of identification, collection, and preservation of evidence. It is a technical, computer-related field involved in the collection and examination of evidence from computers, including cell phones, audio, video, PDAs, for text and graphical images. A computer or digital forensic examination may verify claims or statements made by persons who have a specific interest in the criminal investigation. Therefore, computer and digital forensic examinations are intended to complement, not act as a substitute for a thorough investigation.