The Homicide Liaison is responsible for receiving the initial contact from law enforcement officers regarding homicides, thereby beginning the thorough, efficient, professional and uniform screening and prosecution of murder, manslaughter and reckless homicide cases in Metro Louisville (Jefferson County). Local law enforcement agencies, especially the Louisville Metro Police Department, cooperate in this effort by notifying the Homicide Liaison when a homicide has occurred or is being investigated. If advice or assistance is needed quickly, then the Homicide Liaison renders it. This Liaison also is in charge of the Capital Case Unit involving potential death penalty cases. Such cooperation assists both the police and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office in developing intelligence in other areas of criminal activity related to major crimes. Ultimately, the Homicide Liaison assigns each homicide case, on a rotation basis, to a pair of prosecutors who prepare the case for presentation in court and for trial.

Tom Van De Rostyne - Division Chief, Homicide Liaison, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney

Mr. Van De Rostyne received his license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2000 and came to the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney in January of 2001. Mr. Van De Rostyne received a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Oklahoma in 1988. He then went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Equine Administration from the University of Louisville in 1997. Mr. Van De Rostyne then received his Juris Doctor from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in 2000. Before coming to the Commonwealth, Mr. Van De Rostyne worked as a law clerk and Associate Attorney for the City of Louisville, Department of Law from 1998 to 2001. Mr. Van De Rostyne also served as a cartographer for the Defense Mapping Agency from 1988 to 1994 and as a racing intern for Churchill Downs Racing Department from 1995 to 1997.

Mr. Van De Rostyne is an active member in the Young Lawyers Section of the Louisville Bar Association. While attending the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, Mr. Van De Rostyne served as Vice President of the Student Bar Association and was on the Dean's List from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Van De Rostyne is a professional member of the Kentucky Bar Association and Louisville Bar Association. He currently serves as the Homicide Liaison and is in charge of the Capital Case Unit. Mr. VanDeRostyle is Division Chief of General Trial Division B.