On October 16, 2006, Kenneth Bruno was attending Fairleigh Dickinson University's dedication of their new Cyber Crime Lab where he was demonstrating the use of his electronic eavesdropping detection equipment for many law enforcement officials and state officials, including Congressman Steve Rothman.
The article was published on the front page of the Record Newspaper's Local section.
Fighting Crime With A Mouse
By Jason Tsai, Staff Writer
Cyber-sleuthing is everywhere these days, including Fairleigh Dickinson University.
The university on Monday unveiled a state-of-the-art Cyber Crime Laboratory, where law enforcement officials will learn how to solve digital crimes.
"As we have come to rely on the promise of the Internet to bring us information ... we are beginning to understand the unique dangers and perils of cyberspace," FDU President J. Michael Adams said.
During an hour-long event attended by Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fair Lawn, and local and state law enforcement, FDU officials showed off the 4,200-square-foot space at the school's Dickinson Hall in Hackensack.
The facility, replete with about 40 new computers, was completed recently with the help of $600,000 in federal funds secured by Rothman, as well as an estimated $400,000 from the university and the state.
Eamon Doherty, director of the lab, demonstrated how various gadgets will familiarize students with cutting-edge hardware available to combat computer-related crimes.
"Even a criminal's computer that has supposedly been erased can have key information retrieved," he said as he held up a yellow device investigators can use to extract information from a computer's hard drive.
Rothman lauded university officials for their decision to create a facility designed to combat computer crimes, calling it an "intuitive and brilliant idea."
In 2004, more than 635,000 complaints of consumer fraud and identity theft were filed with the Federal Trade Commission, accounting for an estimated loss of more than $547 million. An estimated 1.3 million more cyber crime professionals will be needed worldwide in the next five years, FDU officials said.
"This is truly a clear and positive benefit," Rothman said. "We have been lacking a facility to train [law enforcement officials] in these brand-new and constantly evolving crimes."
According to Adams, the New Jersey State Police have the only other similar facility in the state.
At FDU, not only will law enforcement officials be able to use the facility, but university students also will have access. Courses offered at the lab range from "Introduction to PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)" to "Global Preparedness for Catastrophic Emergencies."
"Facilities like these really benefit [area police departments] because of the training and experience they offer," said Woodcliff Lake Police Chief Anthony Jannicelli.
"The officers learn, then come back and coach others. It's a far-reaching teaching process."