MET Coursework Builds on Digital Investigation Background for Boston Police Sergeant

More than ten years after graduating from MET with your criminal justice degree, you returned to complete a graduate certificate. Why did you choose MET for your graduate studies? What set the program apart from others you were considering?
Having graduated from Boston University in 2008 with a master’s degree in criminal justice, I was confident that BU would provide superior professors to teach this emerging field of cybercrime and cybersecurity. I chose BU MET because I knew their programs were designed for working professionals. I was able to attend part time, in the evening, taking two courses each semester, which allowed me to complete the Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity (CIC) Graduate Certificate within one year. MET’s flexibility coupled with the academic reputation of BU made my decision to attend easy.

Were you able to use faculty as a resource? Is there a particular faculty member who enhanced your experience at MET?
Before my 2018 promotion to the rank of sergeant, I spent six years as a detective in the Boston Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit. In this role, my investigative focus was child exploitation. These investigations largely take place on the internet, and involve file-sharing platforms, mobile apps, chat rooms, and electronic bulletin boards. My significant on-the-ground experience gave me a strong foundation in conducting cyber investigations and with my law enforcement background, I was most comfortable in the criminal justice classes.I found that the most interesting and appealing part of the CIC program was the integration of students and professors from both computer science and criminal justice programs. Since I had no formal computer science background, I learned the most from the computer science professors and students, notably Senior Lecturer Scott Arena, who taught Digital Forensics and Investigations (MET CS 693).I found the class incredibly demanding, as it educated me on a range of new concepts from hexadecimal mathematical equations to the architecture and evolution of digital devices. The weekly lab assignments required students to use forensic software and process an E01 file to search for and recover evidence, and to then present evidentiary findings in a formal forensic report. The class culminated with a team assignment: to process an expansive digital evidence crime scene. Having served in the role of lead investigator in dozens of real-life digital evidence crime scenes, I found this experience extremely valuable and practical for me and my fellow students.

The Digital Forensics and Investigations (MET CS 693), Applied Digital Forensic Investigation (MET CJ 710), and Mobile Forensics (MET CS 694) courses all required students to produce detailed forensic reports. Professors Arena, Kyung-shick Choi, and Yuting Zhang all expected detailed reports which outlined the steps in the collection of forensic evidence. As someone who has testified in numerous court proceedings involving digital evidence, I know the importance of writing detailed reports when conducting digital evidence investigations. I found great consistency in report expectations among these professors, demonstrating that computer science and criminal justice faculty work seamlessly to produce a cohesive learning experience that students will be able to build on in their professional lives.

Are there any specific skills or competencies you acquired during your studies that qualified you for a promotion, professional designation, title change or other benefit?
I believe the education I received at BU will make me more marketable within my agency and provide me with additional external opportunities. There is certainly a need in law enforcement for a greater number of investigators who know how to conduct cybercrime investigations and can understand the different sources of potential digital evidence. It is also essential that these investigators know how to acquire this information within legally admissible parameters. The vast majority of investigations these days involve at least one type of digital evidence. Knowing how to properly document, preserve, and investigate this growing type of evidence will prove critical for successful and thorough investigations.

How were you able to adapt to some of the challenges of balancing work, home-life, and school? Did you benefit from MET’s flexible class delivery options?
Family support was a critical component in successfully balancing my work, home, and school life. My family knew and respected the time I needed to spend in order to be successful in this program. The program provided solid expectations and sufficient advance notice of assignment due dates to allow me to schedule my time accordingly. I spent significant time each week reading, learning concepts, learning new forensic software programs, and then applying these newly-learned concepts to complex computer forensic lab assignments. I planned out my week and mapped out times to balance the various components of my life.

Have you experienced easy access to your professors when you seek support or want to talk to them? Have you found opportunities to collaborate in constructive ways with faculty or peers?
I communicated with my professors on a fairly regular basis. I found that all my professors responded quickly, and together we were able to resolve any questions I had. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit in March 2020, classes shifted seamlessly to the Zoom video conference classroom. The professors handled this transition with ease and offered students Zoom conferencing opportunities if needed. There were several opportunities for me to collaborate with peers in completing group projects. I had the unique opportunity in two of my classes to teach students about various aspects of writing search warrants, processing digital evidence crime scenes, seizing digital evidence, and the challenges encountered in conducting digital evidence investigations.

Does the classroom environment offer opportunities to network or build industry connections with fellow students or with faculty?
I certainly took advantage of opportunities to network and build relationships with students and professors I met in the program. The integration of computer science and criminal justice students allowed students to teach each other about their areas of expertise. There were ample group projects that allowed students to interact with one another, which only enhanced the learning experience.

What is currently, in your opinion, the most valuable thing that BU MET provides you?
The most valuable thing that BU MET provided me was schedule flexibility to meet the challenges of raising a family, working full time, and completing course work.

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