Small town police departments across northeast Indiana now have faster access to expert help cracking digital evidence. The Allen County High Tech Crime Unit moved to Purdue University Fort Wayne in December. This change strengthens criminal cases for agencies that lack their own tech specialists.
The unit extracts data from phones, computers and other devices. It serves police in nine counties and delivers results that make prosecutions more solid.
Small Agencies Rely on Expert Digital Help
Bluffton Police Detective Marijean Heckel reaches out to the unit regularly. Her department sometimes needs help once or twice a month. Other weeks she drops off devices twice in the same week.
They act like a specialty service similar to SWAT for smaller departments. Heckel said without this support her agency’s cases would suffer and successful prosecutions would drop.
The unit handles requests mostly from agencies outside Fort Wayne. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Detective Tom Olinske uses the service multiple times some months. Devices include cellphones, laptops, tablets, surveillance cameras and cloud data.
Before the regional unit started, small departments depended on the Indiana State Police. That often meant long backlogs. The local hub offers quicker turnaround because it focuses on a smaller area.
Police submit most devices through search warrants. Over 15 percent come with consent. The unit pulls text messages, call logs, location data and social media information.
Relocation Brings Unit Closer to University Resources
Dallas Colley leads the unit. He and his two digital forensic examiners moved from the Rousseau Centre downtown to Purdue Fort Wayne’s Support Services Building. The new spot sits right next to the university police department.
Allen County Prosecutor Mike McAlexander runs the team through his office. The university provides the space at no cost. A memorandum of understanding outlines future collaboration on community safety programs, research and educational outreach.
This partnership creates real training and job opportunities for students. Sherif Elfayoumy, dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science, highlighted fields like cybersecurity, information technology, computer science and computer engineering.
Purdue Fort Wayne offers a Forensic Investigations Minor. Students learn crime scene analysis, evidence preservation and scientific methods for solving cases. The high tech crime unit’s presence adds practical exposure to digital work.
Colley started in July 2023. Since then the Allen County hub has supported about 200 cases and examined hundreds of devices.
Digital Forensics Now Key in Nearly Every Case
Phones have become central to modern investigations. McAlexander called phone analysis hard to overstate in importance.
The unit uses specialized tools to extract data while keeping evidence intact. A signal blocking box prevents remote changes or deletions. Examiners connect analysis equipment to sealed devices.
Common items include:
- Smartphones
- Computers and laptops
- Surveillance systems
- External storage like USB drives and SD cards
- Cloud accounts
- Vehicle infotainment systems
Colley compares modern cars to phones on wheels. His team stays current through ongoing training, including sessions at the National Computer Forensics Institute in Alabama.
Examiners also testify in court. Alyvia Stoudt joined in November and handled her first testimony recently. She processed cellphones and felt more confident after the experience.
Heckel noted jurors now expect cellphone evidence. It helps explain events clearly and builds trust in verdicts.
The work supports truth seeking on both sides. McAlexander recalled a 2015 homicide case where better phone data might have changed the outcome or prevented filing. Strong evidence helps juries decide correctly and protects the justice system.
Fort Wayne Police maintain their own computer forensics team. The regional unit focuses on helping smaller agencies with fewer resources.
State Program Delivers Results Across Indiana
Indiana launched high tech crime units after 2021 legislation. Lawmakers provide three million dollars yearly. The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council oversees the ten regional hubs.
In their first two years the units helped more than 4,500 cases statewide. They analyzed over 7,500 devices according to a 2024 report.
The Allen County unit serves Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties. It formed in April 2022.
Forensic tools and staff take up about 75 percent of program costs. Equipment alone accounts for 41 percent. These investments allow extraction from the newest devices and proper formatting for court.
The units do not handle child sexual abuse material cases. Indiana State Police lead that work because of its specialized nature and volume.
State police digital forensics workload continues to grow due to exploding amounts of digital evidence. Officials note the regional units provide valuable support without replacing their role.
Students Set to Gain From New Partnership
The move positions the unit to connect with Purdue students. Internships and hands on experience could flow naturally from the campus location.
Similar partnerships across Indiana pair prosecutors with universities. These links build the next generation of digital examiners while giving students real world skills.
Colley and his team emphasize continuous learning. Technology changes fast and training never stops. The university setting supports that culture.
This setup levels the playing field for smaller communities. Rural departments gain access to cutting edge capabilities without building expensive programs themselves.
The collaboration points to a future where law enforcement, education and technology work together more closely. Joint funding efforts could expand services or research new tools.
In an era where digital evidence appears in most crimes, these partnerships matter deeply. They help deliver justice faster and more completely for victims, defendants and entire communities.
The Allen County High Tech Crime Unit’s new campus home represents smart investment in public safety. It shows how local innovation combined with university resources creates stronger outcomes across northeast Indiana.
