Captain Dean Kokinda commands the Technical and Support Services Division. The division provides support services to other divisions and units within the Sheriff’s Office.
Captain Kokinda also serves as the agency’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Compliance Officer and is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the Sheriff’s Office meets required CJIS policies and procedures, as set forth by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Captain Kokinda also serves as the Information Technology (IT) liaison to the Berkeley County Information Technology Department, aiding in furthering the agency’s technology needs.
Lieutenant Brent Fenton assists Captain Kokinda with supervision of the division’s various units, administers several CJIS systems utilized by the agency, manages the Computer Forensics Unit, and completes varied technical projects in support of agency operations.
Due to the increased use of technology in society, nearly every criminal investigation includes some type of technology-based investigative component. From robberies to sexual assaults, computers and mobile phones provide critical information in criminal investigations.
The Computer Forensics Unit (CFU) is responsible for the recovery, investigation, examination, and analysis of material found in digital devices including computers and mobile phones. Examiners use nationally recognized best practices in the process of retrieving, storing, analyzing, and preserving electronic data evidence that could be useful in criminal investigations. Electronic data evidence includes information from computer hard drives, mobile phones, smart appliances, vehicle navigation systems, electronic door locks, and other digital devices. The unit also provides media forensic services including the preservation, collection, validation, identification, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and presentation of digital media evidence. Digital media evidence includes digital image, audio, and video evidence supporting criminal investigations.
Stephanie Prine serves as the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Intelligence Analyst and Latent Print Identification Specialist. She uses the agency’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) which is linked to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division’s fingerprint database to assist in identifying unknown latent fingerprints from crime scenes to known persons.
Ms. Prine serves as the agency’s Crime Analyst, as such, she gathers, analyzes, and shares crime data that is with command personnel, Investigators, and Patrol Deputies. This crime data is used to address crime trends in the county. Ms. Prine serves as a liaison with several intelligence and information sharing organizations. She also utilizes intel from surrounding jurisdictions to formulate daily bulletins for Sheriff’s Office personnel and shares agency intel with surrounding jurisdictions.
Additionally, Ms. Prine serves as the Sheriff’s Office’s Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC Officer), responsible for coordinating access with the SLED provided CJIS systems like the NCIC database.
Kristy Wright serves as the Digital Evidence manager and oversees the WatchGuard in-car video and body-worn camera video evidence hardware and video library.
In-Car Video Recording Systems – The Sheriff’s Office currently has 120 in-car video systems deployed. (as of March 2022)
Body Worn Cameras – There are 144 body worn cameras deployed to Sheriff’s Deputies. (as of March 2022)
Average Monthly Videos Uploaded – 11,753 videos are uploaded into the storage system each month and are individually set to be saved from 90 days to indefinitely.
The Duty Office is responsible for answering incoming phone calls, taking reports from callers and walk-in complainants, and operating the agency’s primary NCIC terminals. The unit is staffed by a Sergeant and six civilian Duty Officers. These Duty Officer are NCIC full-function certified and trained to conduct NCIC inquiries, enter and remove NCIC data, and conduct NCIC validation checks. Duty Officers process concealed weapon permit applications, non-Ferrous metal permit applications, and parade/assembly applications. Duty Officers run criminal histories for the Sherri’s Office and other agencies and verify agency arrest warrants for deputies and dispatch.
Staffed by four civilian employees the Records Unit is responsible for processing agency reports and documents. Records personnel respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and legal discovery (Rule 5) requests, run NCIC criminal history inquires including military and DSS background checks, and process Concealed Weapon Permit entries. Records personnel also enter warrants, restraining and protection orders, and enter NCIC validation checks. In 2019 the Sheriff’s Office has transitioned to a new records management system. This new system has increased the efficiency of all the divisions within the Sheriff’s Office.