Investigative Special Services - Electronic Crimes Unit
Electronic Crime is any crime committed with a computer or other electronic device. This includes, but is not limited to, manufacture of or distribution of child pornography, identity theft, fraud, or software piracy or other copyright infringement.
If you have information pertaining to an Electronic Crime, please call Hamilton County Sheriff's Office dispatch at (423) 622-0022.
Goals and Objectives
- Enhance communication between the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the community through the use of electronic medium.
- Provide public safety information to the community regarding Internet use.
- To assist the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, other law enforcement agencies and citizens with the seizure of computers and the recovery of information involving criminal offenses.
- To provide technical assistance to this department and other agencies regarding audio/visual enhancement through the use of computers.
- To develop and distribute criminal analysis patterns to law enforcement agencies in this area.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Electronic Crimes Unit continually updates the skills set of the officers/employees through training and education in the latest computer forensic software and practices. This web site is one the tools for this unit. This site has been developed to enhance information flow not only within the department but also to and from the community. Information flow is crucial for any organization and especially for law enforcement. Information flow is critical for assessing our performance in serving our community, the citizens of Hamilton County.
Investigative Special Services - Evidence Response and Arson
The Evidence Response Team was formed in August of 1999. Currently this team consists of Detective Charles Gaston and Detective Eric Merkle. This team responds to assist in all cases consisting of suspicious death, homicide, suicide and other critical incidents.
Detective Gaston can be reached by phone at (423) 209-8955 and Detective Merkle at (423) 209-8945 during normal business hours. If you have information pertaining to a crime, please contact one of the officers listed above either via phone or email, or call Hamilton County Sheriff's Office dispatch at (423) 622-0022.
Goals and Objectives
- To process crime scenes in a professional manner providing a foundation for the successful prosecution of offenders and exclusion of the innocent.
- To establish and apply general guidelines for the processing of crime scenes.
- To provide a team approach for major incidents freeing up case agent to follow up on information during the first twenty-four hours of a critical incident.
The first step taken by this team was to equip an evidence response vehicle with basic equipment and packaging items necessary for the processing of scenes. With the assistance of HCSO Motorpool, Detective Charles Gaston converted an old county ambulance into a crime scene van. Since inception, equipment has been added including 35mm photography outfits, a forensic light kit, trace hair and fiber recovery kit, tools necessary for the recovery of evidence as well as existing latent and casting equipment. Additional training has been provided and additional crime scene protocols have been established.
Contact Information
Special Services
Investigations Division
6233 Dayton Boulevard
Chattanooga, TN 37343
Phone: (423) 209-8940
Fax: (423) 209-8941
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