Lake Oswego detective recognized for computer forensics investigations

Published 9:00 am Saturday, December 14, 2024

Adept with technology and interested in the practice of digging for information, Lake Oswego Police Department Detective Jonithan Funkhouser is well-suited to working on computer forensics investigations.

His work recently paid dividends in an abuse case and Funkhouser in turn received the National Computer Forensics Institute’s Significant Case Award, which is presented by the United States Secret Service.

“I am incredibly honored to receive it. I am fortunate to have a family that supports me to go to all these trainings and from the department. It is nice for everyone involved to be acknowledged or rewarded for some of the work we are doing,” he said.

Funkhouser joined the department as a patrol officer in 2005 and became a detective in 2010. Prior to that, he studied computer science in college and worked in the IT department for a title company. Due to another promotion in the department, Funkhouser started performing digital forensics — which involves extracting and downloading data from electronic devices and analyzing that data — soon into his detective tenure. Since 2019, Funkhouser said he has been sponsored by the Secret Service to attend all-expenses-paid training at the National Computer Forensics Institute in Alabama.

“We come back with tools essential for training we received. We have received tens of thousands of dollars in equipment and software we use for these investigations,” he said.

Funkhouser explained that most cases involve digital evidence from a computer or mobile phone, and that the department can extract and analyze data from those devices when it receives a search warrant. Some of the artifacts it collects include text messages, location data, photos, videos, deleted files and emails.

“Based on search warrant commands, we are able to look for info that falls within the scope of the search warrant and see which information we find that helps the investigation or is relevant,” he said.

Funkhouser also said it’s oftentimes easier to extract materials from computers than cell phones (which are often encrypted) because the computers may have traces of data even for deleted files.

During a recent case, Funkhouser assisted a neighboring agency that did not have forensic expertise but had received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In the case, an individual was distributing child sex abuse material via X. Funkhouser could not reveal more information about the case because it has not yet reached a resolution, but the data extraction led to obtaining additional evidence and rescuing a local child that was being abused.

“Jon works incredibly hard at this and some of the things he has to deal with in these cases are often very difficult to look at and deal with. Often evidence is pretty awful abuse and different crimes,” LOPD Sargeant Tom Harper said. “He does work that enables other people to be able to bring people to justice. Often they wouldn’t be able to do that nearly as quickly or as well without the work he does.”

Harper emphasized the importance of reporting to the department or to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (in cases involving children) if community members see material on devices that looks suspicious. To submit a tip, visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/FormsLF/mNNS3 or call non-emergency dispatch at 503-635-0238.