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Gazette, Vol. 73, No. 1, 2011
Forensics
From the field to the lab
Challenges spark innovation
Evidence recovery at the Pickton site
CSI: Kandahar
Countering IEDs through science
Bad medicine
OPP confronts prescription drug crimes
Letter from the Editor
New decade. New look.
Much like the policing environment, where challenges in the field and advances in technology prompt new approaches and innovative techniques, the publishing world must also adapt and change.
Cover
For the past 20 years, Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has seen dozens of women go missing. In an attempt to trace their whereabouts, the RCMP and municipal police agencies came together to form Project Evenhanded, whose resources and efforts eventually led investigators to Robert Pickton’s pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia in February 2002.
When local Belleville, Ontario resident Jessica Lloyd went missing on Jan. 29, 2010, Belleville Police Service investigators discovered suspicious tire tread tracks that had been preserved in the late winter snow outside of her home.
In a quiet corner of the lab, a graduate of the Canadian Police College Forensic Identification Services course is carefully processing material collected from a crime scene. After what seems like hours, the technician recovers a critical piece of information, successfully attributing it to a known bomb maker.
The term forensic interviewing is used in the police universe to describe a very structured and detailed interview process, used to obtain as much factual information about a criminal event as possible from witnesses, victims and suspects.
Bankruptcy fraud, procurement fraud and embezzlement — how can a review of a company’s financial information identify red flags of fraud? How do we get from red flags in the financial records to the actual evidence of whether there has been malfeasance?
Soil forensics is the science or study of soil that involves the application of a wide range of soil information to answer legal questions, problems or hypotheses.
The crime scene is considered to be one of the most crucial aspects of an investigation. The scene of the crime is where good forensic science begins.
This spring, the RCMP will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the use of fingerprints to support criminal records in Canada.
News Notes
Canadians are now able to receive potentially life-saving Amber Alert messages from all across the country on their cellular phones thanks to a partnership between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) and the provinces and territories.
Created in 1997, the popular online resource unveiled an improved and redesigned site last year. In addition to a new look, the site’s monthly webzine was replaced by regular blog-style posts to keep up with the pace of online media.
Canada and China have renewed an agreement that facilitates cooperation between the two countries’ national police agencies, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ministry of Public Security, respectively.
A ground-breaking new study suggests that police officers who have experienced stressful, life-threatening situations may not be able to fully remember the event.
Q & A
Taking a bite out of crime
Expert advice on a difficult subject
Panel discussion
Can forensic science be objective?
Alain Cassista, Dr. Itiel Dror and Lesley Hammer
Just the Facts
Here’s a look at the facts.
Police are often the first point of contact in situations of domestic or family violence, which can involve spouses, partners, children and seniors. As these facts show, the recognition of and approach to this global problem is complex and varied.
Featured Submissions
Hard pill to swallowThe misuse, abuse and diversion of prescription drugs are nothing new. More recently, however, prescribed narcotic pain-relievers such as Fentanyl, Methadone, Percocet, Percodan and pure oxycodone-based drugs such as OxyContin have all been implicated as a factor in increased addiction, crime and overdose deaths in the province of Ontario, Canada.
External Submission
RAMPing up on wildlife crime
Canadian police and consumers don’t have to look any further than their local mall pet shops, big-box stores and other known and trusted retailers to witness the growing popularity of exotic pets such as lizards, turtles and snakes, among others.
New Technology
Safety and security streamlined
As Canada’s national police force, the RCMP often takes the lead on security for major events. When Vancouver won the bid for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, RCMP Protective Policing recognized a need for new technology to manage major events and the tremendous volume of security background checks required to grant individuals access to venues.
On the Leading Edge
Latest research in law enforcement
The following are excerpts from recent research related to justice and law enforcement. To access the full reports, please visit the website links at the bottom of each summary.
From Our Partners
Pooling resources
A partnership between the fire and police services in one British Columbia city is improving the response to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) while freeing up resources.
Emerging Trends
Safer roads one tweet at a time
In today’s high-tech environment, police services are constantly challenged with finding new technologies they can use to improve operational efficiencies and increase community safety.
