CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) The West Virginia State Police have announced the formation of the West Virginia State Police Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF), a new initiative to investigate and prosecute violent crimes and cold cases throughout the state.
The VCTF is a collaboration between the West Virginia State Police, the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The task force will collaborate with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, forensic experts, and intelligence analysts to address the growing number of unsolved cases.
Recognizing the importance of a statewide approach to violent crime and cold case investigations, the VCTF will work with the WVSP Forensic Laboratory, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Coordinators and Investigators, and the West Virginia Intelligence Exchange (WVIX).
A key focus will be on using results from the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in collaboration with forensic experts to help advance investigations.
The task force works as a team, with all participating agencies serving as partners. However, the West Virginia State Police will oversee the VCTF’s chain of command and overall direction, ensuring that investigations are coordinated and efficient.
The VCTF is a significant step towards addressing violent crime and bringing justice to victims of unsolved cases, according to state officials.
