Digital forensics lab added to Moultrie Police Department to benefit Southwest Georgia

MOULTRIE, Ga. – Rarely are people seen without some sort of digital device in-hand or close by.

These devices store our photos, contacts, notes, messages, emails and location information.

“You have more information on that device than what you have in your house,” says Investigator Sgt. Shavarye Anderson, who is the Digital Forensic Examiner.

And now, the Moultrie Police Department and the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office can examine that information for evidence to use in cases.

“It allows access to an area in the criminal realm that we didn’t have before prior to us having the lab here, our devices would have to be taken off to different places for processing.”

The new laboratory is devoted entirely to digital forensics and Anderson isn’t just gathering evidence from cellphones. He can examine computers, laptops, tablets, hard drives and even SD cards.

“One case in particular I had 11 devices.”

And this lab isn’t just going to examine digital evidence for Moultrie PD.

“You’re going to have surrounding counties bring equipment to them to be forensically examined,” says Clint Bush, Resident Agent in charge of the United States Secret Service Unit located in Albany, GA.

Bush says the Secret Service provided the lab and digital forensics training after finding the missing link.

“This is something that we’ve been trying years to try to develop here waiting for the right person, the right examiner, being Mr. Anderson.”

Bush says out of the 60 counties he oversees, Moultrie is now one of three with a digital forensics lab.

Access to the lab’s resources and Anderson’s 450 hours worth of training is putting Southwest Georgia ahead of the curve.