Northern Kentucky University is partnering with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office in an initiative to solve cold cases.
Six students were selected to help provide a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit as part of a criminal justice course taught at NKU.
The partnership leverages the skills and fresh perspective of the students, who work closely with experienced investigators from the sheriff’s office. This initiative not only aims to bring justice to unsolved cases but also provides real-world experience for the students.
“The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is the only law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with a full-time cold case unit,” said Sheriff Michael Helmig. “This collaboration with NKU reaffirms our commitment to each victim’s family that their loved one’s case will not be forgotten.”
The students were all enrolled in JUS 494: Cold Case Investigation at NKU and selected for their academic excellence, integrity, critical thinking skills and passion for criminal justice. They were tasked with assessing homicide cases, reading documents about the cases, reviewing hours of taped interviews, and then presenting their investigative recommendations to the detectives of the cold case unit.
“This collaboration is an unprecedented opportunity for our students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-life situations,” said Melissa Moon, professor of criminal justice at NKU. “It also demonstrates NKU’s commitment to community service and fostering the next generation of criminal justice professionals.”