The Waukesha City Finance Committee on Oct. 28 unanimously approved acceptance of a 2025 Community Policing Development microgrant for $139,600 to fund a two-year trial of CellBright forensic-phone-analysis software for the Waukesha Police Department.

Assistant Chief Tom Wagner said the software lets investigators process multiple phones at once and cross-link data across devices, which he said will “really help us” in opioid-related investigations and death investigations by connecting information from victims’ and suspects’ phones. “It’s got enhanced search capabilities,” Wagner said, and the grant will cover the software at no cost to the police department for the two-year award period.

When asked what would happen after the two-year trial, Wagner said an ongoing subscription would cost roughly $46,000 per year and that the grant provides the server and covers much of the upfront costs. He said the department plans to evaluate the tool’s value during the trial and decide later whether to continue it.

Alderperson Lempke moved to accept the grant; Alderperson Helenslavin seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote with unanimous support.

The committee did not vote on any changes to how the department would use the software beyond the trial period, and no ordinance or statutory authority was cited during the discussion.