Arizona Solving Cold Cases with DNA - Phoenix Police Department

The PPD has a long standing commitment to the investigation of cold cases and established two cold case squads to investigate homicides and sexual assaults more than seven years ago. In 2008, the PPD made an organizational commitment to investigating cold cases and dedicated additional resources to these cold case detective squads by increasing the number of detectives assigned and providing them with dedicated resources. In addition, the Department formalized a department-wide protocol to successfully work with all stakeholders in the criminal justice community to solve these cold cases. With the use of the 2008 Solving Cold Cases With DNA grant, the department was able to conduct DNA analysis on 297 homicides and sexual assaults resulting in 60 CODIS hits. This 20 percent hit ratio is consistent with both cold cases and current cases. It is the intent of the Phoenix Police Department to utilize $499,975 of the Solving Cold Cases with DNA grant funds to:
-- Follow up / complete investigation on the 60 cold case CODIS hits and submit them for prosecution as appropriate, in addition to, conducting follow-up investigation on any new hits generated through the analysis of samples processed under this award;
-- Research 600 cold cases from PPD's pending homicide and sexual assault cold cases. It is currently estimated that the PPD has in excess of 2,000 pending cold case investigations;
-- Screen the evidence from 300 of these cases for possible biological evidence;
-- Analyze 200 of these cases for DNA and enter suitable profiles into CODIS; and
-- collaborate with criminal justice community partners and victims (victim families) to forward all suitable cases for prosecution
ca/ncf