Georgetown City Council approved a space-sharing agreement with the Texas Attorney General's Office Cyber Crime Unit for space in the city’s Public Safety Operations and Training Center during its June 9 meeting.
Under the agreement, which lasts a minimum of five years, the Cyber Crime Unit’s 18-member staff would provide computer forensic case support for police investigations as needed and would train Georgetown Police Department staff on computer forensic duties, Chief Wayne Nero said.
Along with case support, the Attorney General’s Office would furnish the space according to the city’s specifications, and any furniture would become the city’s property once the agreement ends, he said.
Nero said his department lacks the capacity to do forensic computer analysis itself and often cases are sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety or Round Rock Police Department. About 40 percent of the department’s cases have a computer aspect, he said.
The Attorney General's Office will also pay $1,450 a month to help offset janitorial services and electric usage, Nero said.
Nero first presented the
option for the agreement to City Council in September, and the council agreed to advance negotiations for the agreement.