When police begin investigating a crime, one of their top priorities is identifying and charging a suspect. That process often takes weeks or even months of interviewing witnesses and analyzing crime scene evidence. But the Fishers Police Department is now demonstrating how technology can dramatically shorten that timeline.

Lt. Jim Hawkins recently gave a live demonstration of the department’s use of Rapid DNA technology—an advanced tool that can provide officers with enough probable cause to charge a suspect in as little as 90 minutes.

Once charges are filed, the evidence is forwarded to the Indiana State Police Lab for further analysis, which prosecutors rely on in court. To strengthen the scientific validity of the results, Fishers PD is partnering with the University of Indianapolis, whose scientists help confirm the DNA findings when necessary.

Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart addressed reporters at the demonstration, emphasizing that the effort highlights how the mayor and city council are actively supporting law enforcement. He added that the department’s use of state-of-the-art technology is a key factor in keeping Fishers among the safest cities in the country.

Demonstrations at the event walked attendees through the process of analyzing DNA and fingerprint evidence using tools rarely available to local agencies. Chief Gebhart also noted that the department’s DNA lab is utilized by other police departments and has contributed to solving cold cases that are decades old.

According to Lt. Hawkins, the department’s Rapid DNA program has helped resolve 44 cases involving unidentified human remains, led to 18 criminal identifications and added 465 suspect profiles to the database.

Demonstration of the M-VAC system, part of the scientific analysis