DAYTON — The Dayton Police Department (DPD) announced it has restructured the Cold Case Unit in an effort to improve success in solving cases.

Thirty-year Dayton Police Department Major Brian Johns supervises investigations within the Cold Case unit for the Dayton Police. 

“We thought an expansion of cold case would be a better way to serve our community,” Johns said. 

The Cold Case Unit will now have three full-time detectives and expand its scope of investigations to include sexual assault cases. 

Johns said there is a lot of work to be done to bring families justice. 

“Going through boxes of case files, some of these back in the '80s,” Johns said. “Hand-typed, or written reports. We’re going through to make an excel document of all these cold cases to see which one of these do we have DNA evidence for, which is so crucial when you’re talking about cold cases.” 

In addition to the increased full-time staff, the unit will also have help from interns from the University of Dayton, and retired detectives who are working on a volunteer basis.

One of Dayton's most prolific cold cases is former Dayton Police Officer Kevin Brame, who was shot and killed Nov. 1, 1999

Dayton Police said this effort to improve their cold case department is for one reason: To provide answers and justice for victims and their families.

“Can you imagine being a rape victim, or the father or mother of a homicide victim, and to have that happen to you or your loved one and no one be held accountable,” Johns said. “That, to me, is beyond the realm.” 

Twenty-year DPD Lt. Jason Hall said of the many challenges, time is one of the most complicating factors. 

DPD Lt. Jason Hall works through a cold case file at the downtown headquarters.

“People’s memories, witnesses passing on, you have a window where you’re trying to get information,” Hall said. “Every day you stretch it out, it becomes a little more difficult, but not unsolvable.”

The unit will use all modern technologies available to make sure all forensic evidence is checked and leads are pursued. But Hall said most importantly they have the right people in place to make a dent in this case load. 

“We think we have an outstanding team to get a fresh set of eyes on this and maybe get some traction,” Hall said.  

Dayton Police will also be starting a podcast at the beginning of the new year, sharing one case per month with the hope that new information will come forward from the public. 

If anyone has any information on an unsolved homicide or sexual assault, please contact the Dayton Police Department Cold Case Unit at 937-333-7109.