Cold Case Cash Runs Cold For State Unit

By Chris Earl, Reporter

Tools

By Jaime Sharer

Story Created: Nov 3, 2011 at 10:56 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2011 at 10:56 PM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa - Three years after the creation of the state’s cold case unit, the federal money to actually operate it has run out.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Jessica Lown told reporter Mike Wiser of the Quad City Times that he unit’s “only full-time officer has been reassigned”. Lown told the newspaper the department is still hoping a grant will bring in enough revenue to revive the unit.

In 2008, state lawmakers voted to approve the unit but chose not to fund it, instead paying for it with a federal grant.

Some police departments in the state have used the cold case unit for help with some of their most puzzling crimes.

“It’s always good to go back on cases you cannot solve as they stick with officers and it bothers us when we can’t solve a case,” said Lt. Michael McNamee of the Waterloo Police Department. “It always helps when someone can put an extra set of eyes on a case.”

McNamee said his department has ten investigators and they do send occasional cases to the Des Moines-based agency.

“We now have scientific capabilities we didn’t have 20 years ago,” said McNamee. “DNA is a perfect example with improvements in that area that can help further leads.”

Richard and Linda Christie are still search for answers in the 2005 death of their granddaughter, Evelyn Miller, 5, of Floyd. A kayaker found the body of the little girl days after she disappeared from an apartment. No one has been convicted in her death.

“If the cold case agency is cut, maybe they’ll (family members of a victim) never know and that’s a part of closure that victims of homicide need to know,” said Linda Christie.

“It’s almost like the state is saying, ‘let’s step back and this is where we could save some money,” said Richard Christie. “I think the citizens of Iowa expect more from our government.”

Yet not every law enforcement agency has worked with the cold case unit for old crimes. Sgt. Kent Choate of the Cedar Rapids Police Department said they keep their “cold cases” in-house as regular investigators and detectives review them on a regular basis.

Next Article Man Arrested for OWI with Zebra, Parrot in Front Seat of Truck

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Crime, sexual abuse, property fires, automobile accidents, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.