About My Mission
Hi, my name is Christine and my personal goal is to provide Investigative Forensic Genetic Genealogy (DNA) training to as many police officers in the U.S. as possible.
I'm a former police detective and sergeant, now law enforcement trainer and private investigator. While I may have left the police department, the cold cases continue to haunt me.
I believe that no case should go cold, no victim, family member or loved one be left without answers and no guilty party go unpunished. It's like victimizing the victims again.
What's Going Wrong:
- According to the US Department of Justice, there are 250,000 unsolved murders as of 2019*.
- Homicides increase over 6,000 each year*
- Cold cases constitute a "crisis" says the National Institute of Justice*
- The United States has nearly 18,000 law enforcement agencies*
- CODIS is only helpful if the offender is IN the database and CODIS technology is outdated
- There is a huge #defundthepolice movement spreading across the U.S.
- Officers are leaving police departments in droves
- Police departments are challenged in hiring enough officers
- If police can't staff current work, they certainly can't work the backlog of cold cases
There have been great technology advancements enabling laboratories to obtain DNA profiles in ways that they could not previously. This means that police now have more evidence to work with and more ways to identify potential suspects or unidentified deceased persons who may have been the victim of foul play.
What Is It?
Genetic Genealogy is the use of traditional genealogy (like related individuals and historical documents) along with genetic information (DNA profiles) to develop leads on potential suspects. Through the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) police can now quickly and easily find the perpetrator or the perpetrator's family, which allows them to go from zero to hero, getting justice for all.
Why Me?
Well, believe me, I didn't choose it, but a few years ago I got a huge heck of DNA drama in my own life. In trying to solve those mysteries, I learned a LOT about Genetics and Genealogy.
While at first I cried out about being "cursed," I came to the realization that my experiences have actually been a blessing in disguise. You see, having worked as a police detective and now as a genealogist, I am perfectly positioned to help solve these cases!
For this specific purpose, I created and currently teach my class Genetic Genealogy For Law Enforcement so that police officers and detectives can do this work in-house, utilizing this technology to the fullest.
How You Can Help:
- Spread the word about the opportunity to as many departments and police officers as you can
- Donate any amount so that we can train as many officers as possible
I know together we can do it!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Christine
*https://www.ojp.gov/files/archives/blogs/2019/crisis-cold-cases
About Christine Burke
Christine combines her personality and experience in her consulting, educational, and entrepreneurial endeavors. She is a retired police detective and sergeant and IADLEST Certified law enforcement trainer. She is the owner of, and supervisory investigator for, Strategic Intelligence Services PLLC, a global full-service private investigative agency located in Arizona. Christine is a qualified Expert Witness in the area of police policy, procedure and culture.
She combines a love for her work and charitable causes in Help Solve The Case, which donates investigative resources to review, investigate, and solve cold cases, wrongful convictions and DNA and genetic genealogy cases. Christine worked as a police officer in South Florida, in the positions of officer, detective and sergeant. Christine worked with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office instructing, as one of the DUI Task Force Coordinators, as part of the Dignitary Protection Team, and facilitating interstate prisoner transport.
Christine was a Board Director for Dress For Success of NE Florida and supported the Humane Society of NE Florida. Christine holds a Master's Degree in Business Organizational Management, a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice/Psychology and has completed over 200 continuing education classes. Christine consults in both the business and criminal justice areas and she relishes the chance to tell a good story or provide technical expertise.
In 2016 Christine was featured as a guest speaker on marketing for the Arizona Association of Licensed Private Investigators (AALPI), in 2014 a featured investigator for Investigation Discovery ID TV, and she also enjoyed her on screen role as a police officer in The Maddening, a motion picture starring Burt Reynolds and Angie Dickenson.
