The Arlington Police Department, in partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington, has launched an innovative new program aimed at helping solve cold cases.
The idea began when APD Homicide Sergeant Blake Ritchie gave a classroom presentation at UTA last year. Afterward, Pat Eddings, a Senior Lecturer with UTA’s Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice and a former forensic analyst, asked if APD would be willing to collaborate on an advanced course dedicated to cold case investigations.
APD command staff approved the proposal, and after finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding, the program officially began during the Fall 2025 semester.
“The UTA CRCJ Department is thrilled to have this opportunity for our students and to provide support to APD,” said Dr. Jaya Davis, Professor and Director of Graduate Programs for CRCJ. “We are very grateful for our ongoing partnership with APD that provided the foundation for this course and hope these efforts aid APD in solving additional cold cases.”
Fifteen students pursuing degrees in criminal justice and forensics were selected for the program. Divided into teams, they have been assigned three real, unsolved APD homicide cases to review. While physical evidence remains off-limits, the students have been given access to all police reports and related case materials. At the end of the semester, each team will present its findings and recommendations to APD investigators.
“This is truly a win-win,” said Assistant Chief Kyle Dishko, who oversees the Criminal Investigations Bureau. “Cold case investigations require significant time and resources. This program gives the department additional eyes and hours that can be devoted to these unsolved cases. In return, students are gaining invaluable experience that will set them up for future success. We hope this unique partnership will ultimately lead to more cold cases being solved.”
Eddings, who helped develop the program, said her students have been eager to take on the challenge. “Many are showing up early and staying late to ensure they’re not missing anything,” she said. “This partnership provides them with a unique opportunity to contribute to real-world cases while helping APD in its pursuit of justice.”
The Arlington Police Department does not have a dedicated cold case unit; instead, unsolved murders are assigned to homicide detectives as time allows. Since 2023, APD has solved seven cold cases, including the 1985 murder of Terri McAdams and the 2020 murder of Evan Lacey.
