NORWAY — Norway Police Department has always been forward thinking. Under its former police chief, Robert Federico, it was the first to get a grant for a school resource officer, and other grants for equipment and programs.

Under its current chief, Jeff Campbell, the attitude continues – supported by NPD officers who want to make the community as safe as possible for residents.

Officer John Lewis and Investigator Jeremy Pyburn are two of those officers spearheading what they call the Special Enforcement Unit.

“This is proactive investigation,” explains Lewis.

“Crimes that can be interdicted,” adds Pyburn.

They cite such crimes as drug trafficking and human trafficking.

So how can they stop a crime before it is committed? Or, more to the point, how can they know a crime might be committed?

Pyburn explains:

“Say you have a house where intel suggests there might be drug dealing. Nearby you are seeing burglaries.”  The burglaries, he says,  are because of the criminal activities going on at the address you suspect of drug dealing. For example, he suggests that someone who wants to buy drugs might steal property to sell or trade so they can afford to pay for the drugs.

“You identify the reason behind why all this [increased criminal activity] is happening,” adds Lewis.

“We consider this a high priority because ordinary people are being affected [by the increase in crime].” says Pyburn.

They agree they look for patterns in crime.

The unit has also begun doing digital forensics which is the identification and extraction of digital evidence.  Using specialized equipment and software, and having undergone extensive training, Lewis is now able to get critical evidence in a much more expeditious manner than in the past.

The duo point out that almost everything we do these days leaves a digital footprint. Digital forensics or tracking that footprint, is very expensive in Maine and there can be a backlog of a year or two. Very few agencies have the capability of digital forensics and those that do are critically understaffed.

There is a detective in Androscoggin County who is qualified and he has partnered with state and federal agencies. But the more severe crimes always go to the front of the line, they say.

“Agencies that handle digital forensics include the Maine Computer Crimes unit, Homeland Security, the FBI and the Secret Service. We are the only entity in Oxford County that does and digital forensics can be used for [investigation of] myriad crimes,” Lewis explains.

He says it is most used right now for drug trafficking. However, he is beginning to work on sex crimes – Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) – and NPD is becoming affiliated with the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force, the FBI and ICAC. The aforementioned agencies and programs “help our communities and they help train officers and we help with their cases.” Having affiliates can help everyone, he notes.

Lewis says the department received grant funding for the equipment and software from Operation Underground Railroad which is an organization formed to fight child sex trafficking worldwide. It operates in Asia, Middle East/Africa, Europe, Latin America, Mexico/Caribbean, and United States/Canada spanning over 30 countries. In some countries it will steal back children who have been stolen and trafficked. In the United States, it helps law enforcement find these children and rescue them.

Lewis says that by having the ability to handle digital forensics, NPD puts itself at the front of the line when it comes to its investigative needs, eliminating the backlog and wait time. Further, it can help other agencies with these services.

“It’s like Oxford Police Department has an Intoxilyzer and area agencies can go there and use it. We will be the same for digital forensics.”

Lewis is certified as both and operator and analyst for the equipment.