Central Point police Chief Kris Allison said the high-tech crimes unit her department hosts will continue without a hitch after its supervisor resigned while under investigation.
Allison said she was seeking to allay public concern that the Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force will stop investigating cases of child pornography and other Internet crimes.
"We have eight skilled people at the task force who will continue doing great work," Allison said. She said she would appoint someone to fill the supervisor vacancy.
The task force was shaken up recently when its supervisor, Lt. Josh Moulin, suddenly resigned. Moulin is under investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon State Police for possible wrongdoing.
The accusations against Moulin have not been made public, with the agencies saying the investigation remains open.
Allison said she, too, has been left in the dark as the Department of Justice and OSP look into Moulin's time with the task force.
"I am waiting for the results of this investigation like everyone else," Allison said.
The chief did say that she hasn't been asked to testify in the investigation, but possibly could do so in the coming weeks.
Allison declined to comment on whether Moulin had been placed on administrative leave before his resignation.
She also would not comment on her working relationship with Moulin.
"These are all personnel matters and I can't comment on them," she said.
Allison said the department will seek to promote someone to a lieutenant's position to take Moulin's place on the task force.
Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston said he asked the Justice Department -- the state Attorney General's Office -- to handle the investigation because Moulin had worked closely with Jackson County prosecutors on several past cases.
The task force has made a name for itself over the years for aggressively pursing child pornographers. Task force officers also routinely give public presentations about their work and Internet safety to students and community groups throughout the county.
Allison reiterated a comment made by Huddleston this week that none of the task force's past cases were compromised by Moulin's alleged wrongdoing.
"I am in full agreement with (Huddleston) on this issue," Allison said.
Moulin helped form the task force in 2005. Over the years, the operation has grown to include officers from other agencies, including Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, Klamath Falls and Central Point police departments, the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.
It is the only non-federal law enforcement agency in the U.S. that solely focuses on digital forensics and is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors.
Allison said the task force is currently being supervised by a special agent with the FBI who is a member of the unit.
Copyright 2012 - Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
