The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the University of South Florida to preserve more than 80,000 historical items that date back to the late 19th century.
The project led by Davide Tanasi, professor and director of the internationally recognized Institute for Digital Exploration, involved digitizing, categorizing and archiving a range of items such as testimonies, jail intake ledgers, mugshots and crime scene photos. The digitized items were entered into a centralized database designed to make it easier for law enforcement to search,cross-reference and analyze.
"This collaboration marks a critical step forward in securing the history of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “By digitizing our historical records, we safeguard valuable information and details about those who served this community. This improved access to data may even enhance our investigative capabilities, potentially opening doors in cold cases and bringing closure to families. This project is not just about efficiency; it's about delivering justice and ensuring a safer future for all.”
In addition to serving as an invaluable resource for investigating cold cases, the collection reveals an in-depth history of the Sheriff’s Office’s training procedures, facilities and employees, including John Cacciatore, a major who solved several murders and violent crimes before the 1990s.
"Although people like him never went in history books, they were protagonists of decades of history in Tampa and the county,” said Dr. Tanasi. “Now all their incredible professional accomplishments have finally emerged piece by piece from this archive. It’s allowed our community’s unsung heroes to finally find their voices.”
The archive also provides new insight on the troubled years from the late 1940s through the 1960s. Among the documents were records on Bolita, Tampa’s illegal lottery; organized crime, including the Trafficante crime family; and the original mugshot of Santo Trafficante Jr. It also includes the case files of serial killers Oscar Ray Bolin and Bobby Joe Long.
In addition to digitizing the archival collection, the team scanned 78 historical artifacts with advanced digital imaging technologies to produce a three-dimensional online collection of vintage uniforms and equipment. They also created a virtual tour of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s History Center in Ybor City. The online collection and virtual tour will increase accessibility to the historical artifacts.