Technology & Innovation

The Technology and Innovation Division was created in September 2019 as a concentration point for the many ways technology can be used to perform and enhance TBI's public safety mission.

Littlehale_Richard

Assistiant Director
Richard Littlehale

ISU is the TBI’s information technology hub, with responsibility for running TBI’s data center and business technology, managing critical communications, and facilitating the creation, deployment and maintenance of systems for all of the Bureau’s components and many external customers. ISU makes sure that TBI personnel can work effectively whenever and wherever their duties require.

CIU compiles, analyzes, and shares statewide criminal intelligence, with a special emphasis on organized crime, fugitives, gang activity, and missing children.

Among several responsibilities, the employees assigned to this unit manage Tennessee’s Fusion Center, the state’s AMBER Alert program, the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, and the TBI’s Most Wanted Program.

TBI's Cybercrime & Digital Evidence Unit conducts specialized technical investigations and enhances the investigations of others through advanced capabilities. CDEU agents conduct proactive investigations into a range of online harms, including internet crimes against children, threats to life communicated online, cyber-enabled fraud, and computer intrusions. This unit is also tasked with deploying and gathering evidence from advanced technologies in support of TBI Special Agents and the Tennessee law enforcement community, including digital forensic analysis and communications and geolocation evidence-gathering. CDEU agents also support operations with mobile command, specialty vehicles, and radio communications assistance. In addition, these agents are also in charge of TBI's Electronics Detection K9.

To accomplish this mission, CDEU has four unique squads:

• Cybercrime Investigations Squad ("Cyber Squad")
Responsible for investigating cybercrime violations against individuals, government, and businesses, as well as assisting other investigators in areas of specialization like online threat attribution, cryptocurrency, and online fraud

• Internet Crimes Against Children Squad ("ICAC Squad")
Responsible for investigating possession, distribution and manufacture of child sexual abuse material, minor sex trafficking and child sexual abuse involving technology, public outreach and training.

• Digital Forensics Investigations ("Digital Forensics Squad")
Responsible for supporting all TBI divisions and external law enforcement agencies in conducting forensic investigations involving digital devices, providing analysis reports and expert courtroom testimony.

• Operational Technologies Squad ("Tech Squad")
Responsible for supporting all TBI divisions with technical investigative technologies and special equipment, such as communications intelligence, intercept system, online threats to life, mobile device location, undercover technical equipment, radios, command post deployments and specialized equipment.