EDISON, NJ — Mayor and Public Safety Director Sam Joshi and Police Chief Thomas Bryan announced the formation of a new Cold Case Unit within the Edison Police Department, a specialized team dedicated to reviewing unsolved homicides and major crimes across the township.
The unit will focus on identifying investigative opportunities created by advances in forensic science, including DNA analysis, genetic genealogy, digital evidence processing and other technologies that weren't available or as advanced when many of these cases were originally investigated. It will be staffed by experienced detectives, supervisors and Crime Scene Unit personnel, who will systematically review unsolved cases, evaluate existing evidence, identify opportunities for additional forensic testing and pursue new leads.
"Our administration remains committed to ensuring that victims and their families are never forgotten," Joshi said. "The creation of this Cold Case Unit demonstrates our investment in public safety, our commitment to justice, and our belief that advances in science and technology can help provide answers in cases that have remained unresolved for years or even decades. Every victim deserves our continued efforts, and every family deserves the opportunity for answers."
Bryan said the unit reflects how far forensic investigation has come.
"Advancements in forensic science have transformed criminal investigations," Bryan said. "DNA technologies, forensic genealogy, digital evidence analysis, and enhanced laboratory capabilities are solving cases today that would have been considered unsolvable years ago. Our detectives will thoroughly review unsolved major crimes and determine where modern investigative techniques may reveal new evidence, identify suspects, and ultimately deliver justice."
The unit will work closely with forensic laboratories, prosecutors and specialized law enforcement partners to identify cases suitable for re-examination, using tools including advanced DNA testing, forensic genetic genealogy, enhanced fingerprint analysis, digital evidence recovery and investigative database resources.
"The passage of time does not diminish our responsibility to seek justice," Bryan said. "This unit will ensure that unsolved cases remain active and that advances in technology are continually evaluated for their potential to move investigations forward."
As its first case, the unit is renewing efforts in the March 4, 1994, murder of Irwin Edelman, the owner of Acme Check Cashing at 1259 Route 1 South in Edison, who was fatally shot during an attempted robbery of his business. More than three decades later, the case remains unsolved, and detectives believe advances in forensic science and renewed public attention may help identify those responsible.
Police are asking anyone with information about Edelman's murder, or any other unsolved homicide or major violent crime in Edison Township, to come forward, no matter how insignificant the detail may seem. Information can be reported to the Edison Police Department Tip Line at 732-248-7435 or anonymously through Middlesex County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-939-9600 or online at www.middlesextips.com.
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