Title
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing the Police Department to submit a grant proposal to the Governor’s Office to seek funding for the Criminal Justice Grant Program to offset costs associated with funding and increasing the capabilities of the department’s digital forensics unit (Chief of Police)
Background:
The Office of the Governor is currently soliciting grant applications from law enforcement agencies for projects that enhance public safety, reduce crime, and improve the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. In 2025, the League City Police Department received $135,368.55 to establish and equip a Digital Evidence Lab, enabling the department to collect, analyze, and store digital evidence more efficiently in support of criminal investigations.
The department seeks to build upon this initial investment as digital evidence is now present in the vast majority of criminal investigations and continues to increase in both volume and complexity. Proper handling of digital evidence requires specialized training, modern hardware and software, and secure storage systems to ensure evidentiary integrity and compliance with legal standards.
Since the Digital Forensics Unit was established in January 2025, it has processed 93 cases involving primarily felony-level offenses, including child exploitation, homicide, burglary, fraud, and narcotics investigations. During this time, 278 digital devices were examined, resulting in the secure storage of more than 37,600 gigabytes of digital evidence. The unit has also provided investigative support to eight neighboring law enforcement agencies, strengthening regional partnerships and public safety efforts.
To maintain operational effectiveness and meet increasing demand, the department must expand its digital evidence storage capacity, as the volume of digital evidence requiring retention continues to grow exponentially. Expanding storage ensures that all digital files-including those from body-...
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