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City Committee to Discuss Agreement That Would Allow Pasadena Police Access to Glendale Crime Lab

Agreement could increase efficiency and capability in department's forensic computer examinations and investigations

Published on Monday, May 11, 2020 | 8:56 am
 

The Pasadena City Council’s Public Safety Committee will discuss a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Pasadena and Glendale at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13.

The $75,000 MOU would pave the way for cooperation between the Pasadena Police Department’s Computer Crimes Unit and Glendale’s Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory (VRCL), with the option to extend the agreement for two additional three-year periods, with the total value of each three-year extension not to exceed $75,000.

A report prepared by the Pasadena Police Department for the Public Safety Committee and the City Council showed the proposed agreement will allow the department to use Glendale’s crime lab so it could increase its efficiency and capability in the area of forensic computer examinations and investigations.

“The partnership would also be another example of the Pasadena Police Department participating in regional law enforcement efforts. While working at the VRCL, the PPD’s examiners will be performing work for and with other agencies including Burbank Police Department, San Marino Police Department, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Monterey Park Police Department and Glendale Police Department,” the report said.

The agreement will cover integration of forensic computer hardware and software, cooperative investigation, and sharing of criminal justice information, data and other forensic computer issues related to criminal investigations.

The report said the Pasadena Police Department experienced a loss of expertise in its Computer Crimes Unit in 2018 because of personnel shifts and retirements. Partnering with a forensic computer lab was proposed as a solution to develop expertise among personnel.

Aside from Glendale’s crime lab, the Police Department also explored possible partnerships with the U.S. Secret Service’s Electronics Crimes Task Force and the FBI’s regional computer forensic lab. In the end, the Department determined Glendale’s lab model would be to the City’s best interest.

VRCL has recognized experts in the field of digital evidence, the report said. The lab is also accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and provides immediate availability of resources, infrastructure and personnel support, according to the report.

Pasadena police examiners will also be assigned to train with staff at the Glendale lab, which on a daily basis performs data acquisition and analysis of cellphones, computers and other electronic data devices to assist detectives with evidence- and information-gathering related to criminal investigations.

Training is envisioned to eventually include quality management, the report said.

Like all other government meetings throughout the state, the Pasadena Public Safety Committee’s special meeting will be conducted only through video conferencing or teleconferencing, in compliance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting may be accessed through www.pasadena.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=9.

Members of the public may participate electronically in the open session portion of the meeting by, first, submitting public comment of any length up to two hours prior to the start of the meeting, to the email address vflores@cityofpasadena.net.

During the meeting, members of the public may submit up to 200 words regarding items on the agenda at the webpage www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment.

The special meeting begins at 4 p.m.

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