HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9286INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9286
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 3, 2010
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON POLICE COLD CASE DETAIL
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The cold case effort of the Fort Worth Police Department's Homicide Unit began in 2002 with the
assignment of two (2) detectives to exclusively review unsolved homicides. A systematic review was
conducted of all unsolved homicide cases dating back to 1966, and each case was prioritized based upon
the evidence and potential leads. Currently there are 755 unsolved homicide cases in the City of Fort
Worth. In the past ten years, there have been 116 unsolved homicide cases.
In January 2004, application was made to the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office for a
grant - funded full -time detective position in the Homicide Unit. The funding from this grant will expire
effective September 1, 2010. The Department was notified on Friday, July 23, 2010, that the state grant for
the Cold Case Unit was not renewed. This was the last year that the Department was eligible for this
particular grant which would have covered 40 percent of the detectives' salary.
In November 2008, the Homicide Unit received a second grant for the Cold Case Detail. This was an 18-
month National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant in conjunction with our crime lab for cold case investigation
through DNA. This grant provided the detail with a detective to work exclusively on homicides with
available DNA evidence. The detective works closely with crime lab and property room personnel to
identify and locate evidence suitable for DNA testing. Due to these efforts, 51 homicide cases have been
submitted to the crime lab for DNA processing. The results include 16 CODIS eligible profiles, seven (7)
CODIS hits, and arrests of individuals in five (5) previously unsolved homicides. CODIS (Combined DNA
Index System) is a computer system managed by the FBI that stores DNA profiles to assist in the
identification of suspects of violent crime.
The NIJ grant terminates in August 2010; however, in May 2010, the Department applied for the same
grant, which could supply funding for another 18 months if awarded. This grant provides for $384,960.00
in funding for the salary and fringe benefits for the detective and an evidence technician to coordinate all
case evidence with the crime lab, Homicide Unit, and DNA outsourcing vendor. We anticipate an award
decision by September 2010 on our application. Currently 54 cases have been submitted for DNA testing
utilizing grant funding. Upon approval of the DNA grant, the department has 85 additional cases awaiting
DNA processing.
Since the cold case effort began in 2002, 198 cases have been opened, reviewed and had investigative
action taken. A total of 113 homicide cases have been solved that occurred during years previous to the
year in which they were closed. The following is a breakdown of cold homicide cases cleared by year:
2010 -2
2007 -11
2004 -22
2009 -6
2006 -14
2003 -21
2008 -7
2005 -21
2002 -9
As the statistics indicate, the Homicide Unit's Cold Case Detail has had success in clearing numerous
unsolved homicide cases during its existence. The detail has depended on grant funding since its inception;
however, it is a certainty that some of the grant funding will terminate in the foreseeable future. A
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9286
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 3, 2010
Page 2 of 2
• SUBJECT: UPDATE ON POLICE COLD CASE DETAIL
challenge facing the leadership of the Department will be to ensure our same level of service and
commitment to this mission given the potential lack of grant funding and the current economic challenges
facing the City. Though this will indeed be a challenge, the Department will remain focused on bringing
justice and resolution to the families of murder victims within our community.
Dale A. Fiss er, P.E.
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS