By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing
USF’s internationally recognized Institute for Digital Exploration is helping the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office preserve more than 80,000 items that date back to the late 19th century – some for historical purposes, others than can hold the key to solving crime.
The project led by Davide Tanasi, professor and director of the Institute for Digital Exploration, involved digitalizing, 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,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “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,” Tanasi said. “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.”
Original mugshot of Santo Trafficante Jr.
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.
With some of the records being a century old, their fragile state required diligent handling.
“Some were close to disintegrating from their age and exposure to insects, bugs and moisture over the years,” said Sarah Hassam, project manager for the Institute for Digital Exploration. “A lot of these documents are friable in 20 years, meaning they might become dust and illegible, but now we have digital copies of them for future research and continuity of care of records.”
For lab manager and Tampa native Lisa Shorts, it was an honor to be a part of this project. “It is really fulfilling, rewarding work being able to help preserve so many important moments in the history of our own community.”
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.
Once the project is complete, the digital archive will be available for the public to view at the History Center.