In a short interview on NPR's Morning Edition on Friday, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said there is a "reasonably good chance that there is nothing of any value on the phone."

Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook reiterated the company’s firm commitment to privacy and its resolve to fight a new court order issued earlier this month. If the order stands up to legal challenges, Apple would be forced to create a new customized iOS firmware that would remove the passcode lockout on a seized iPhone as part of the ongoing San Bernardino terrorism investigation. On Thursday, Apple filed its formal legal response and set the stage for an important court hearing in nearby Riverside next month.

However, this morning Burguan articulated the general law enforcement perspective that it is "not fair to the victims and their families," and the government should "leave no stone unturned in the investigation."

Burguan indicated to NPR that months after the December 2015 terrorist attacks that took place in his city, the investigation is largely wrapped up. "Maybe there was some information that would lead to a larger plot and a larger network and therefore there are other people out there that are still a danger," he said. "I think the probability is low, but that it could be."

So what does the FBI hope the phone will reveal? "What we are hoping is on the phone is potential contacts that we would want to talk to," Burguan said.

The SBPD chief concluded by noting that he owns an iPhone and an iPad and is a "fan of Apple products."