Valley County authorizes application for forensic data-extraction grant to speed child exploitation investigations

Valley County commissioners on April 7 authorized the sheriff's office to apply for grant funding from an organization identified in the application as Our Rescue to purchase electronic forensics software and equipment for extracting data from phones and computers.

Sheriff Ken (first name given in the record as Ken) told commissioners the county currently must send devices to the FBI field office in Boise for analysis, a process that can take months and pulls deputies off patrol. "Until you get the evidence off a phone or a computer, that whole case is just in limbo," Ken said, describing long FBI backlogs as the primary reason for seeking an in-house capability. He said local detective Gorski has been handling many of these cases and that faster access to device data could turn months into "probably days, if not hours."

Sheriff Ken and commissioners discussed training and recurring costs. Ken said short training sessions are available and described the equipment as largely "plug and play." He estimated the annual license or support fee after purchase at about $14,000, with the first year covered by the grant if awarded. Commissioners urged the sheriff to seek regional partners to share annual costs with nearby agencies.

The board voted to authorize applying for the grant; the authorization covers only the application. A county official clarified the board was not approving a purchase at this time: if the grant is awarded, the sheriff would return with a purchase request for formal approval.

Commissioners asked staff to explore partnerships with neighboring agencies to share ongoing costs if the county purchases the software and to return with budget implications before any purchase decision.