Knox County
Sheriff's Office

DIU

Technology has become a major part in our daily lives. Finding new ways to make life more convenient, efficient, and resourceful is one of the great ways Technology contributes to our world. DIU was established in October 2018 to help officers, investigators and staff do just that with their daily tasks.

The unit has dedicated almost 90 years of combined service and experience to Knox County and over 1,000 hours in Technical and Digital Investigations training. 

What We Do

DIU supports a wide range of investigative, analytical, forensic, and community-focused initiatives, including:

Crime analysis and mapping – this helps law enforcement identify trends, recognize incident patterns, and keep the community informed about activity occurring within their neighborhoods.

Partner with local schools and community organizations to provide online safety education focused on responsible internet use, social media awareness, cyber safety, and the prevention of online exploitation.

Male and Female deputies near UT ball field smiling at camera

Crime Analysis and Mapping that helps law enforcement recognize incident patterns and keep the community aware of activity in their neighborhoods. They also work with multiple other Law Enforcement agencies on investigations and fugitive tracking.

Investigate Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cases involving online exploitation, enticement, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material, while working closely with local, state, and federal partners.

Manage accounts for online investigative tools as well as digital device management and support.

And more!

Two DIU staff smiling at camera

Internet Safety Resources

  • NCMEC - National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

    NCMEC is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.

  • NCMEC Cybertipline

    The CyberTipline is the place to report child sexual exploitation.

  • NCMEC - Take It Down

    Having nudes online is scary, but there is hope to get it taken down. This service is one step you can take to help remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18.

  • ICAC Info & Resources - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

    The ICAC Program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet and other technology, the proliferation of child sexual abuse images available electronically, and the heightened online activity by predators seeking unsupervised contact with potential underage victims. The ICAC Task Force agencies are engaged in both proactive and reactive investigations, forensic examinations, and criminal prosecutions.

  • No Escape Room - Discover How Teens Get Trapped

    Experience what it feels like to get caught in online sextortion. Can you find a way out before it's too late?

  • Roblox Safety

    Roblox's vision is to set the standard for online safety, with rigorous built-in protections and safety systems to help keep every user secure. Roblox also offers tools and services that users can access to further protect their experience.

  • Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

    The Internet Crime Complaint Center is the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime. It is run by the FBI, the lead federal agency for investigating crime.

  • Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS)

    Internet-related crime, like any other crime, should be reported to appropriate law enforcement investigative authorities at the local, state, federal, or international levels, depending on the scope of the crime. Citizens who are aware of federal crimes should report them to local offices of federal law enforcement.

  • Snapchat for Parents - Safety Hub

    Snapchat was designed to bring you closer to friends and family, in an environment that prioritizes safety and privacy. Learn how Snapchat works, the key protections we offer for teens, and how to use our safety tools.

  • Snapchat for Educators - Tools & Resources

    This guide is meant to help educators and school administrators understand how their students use Snapchat, the key protections available to students and schools on Snapchat, and what resources we offer to assist schools in their efforts to create a safe and supportive digital environment for students.

**If this is an emergency or if you are in need of police response, please call 911**

Send DIU A Message

Digital background with "DIU Digital Intelligence Unit"
Sheriff Tom Spangler

Knox County Sheriff's Office

Knoxville, TN

Tom Spangler, Sheriff