I’ve been asked on several occasions is why an investigation takes so long. You may hear of an incident happening and then not hear anything about it for a long time.
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The answer is that investigations have many involved factors, resulting in them taking longer.
Injury collisions are a common incident many from the public think should be wrapped up quickly. I mean, after all, once everything is cleared, don’t the police have everything they need?
Many investigative steps take time, and as specialized units may be involved, gathering and processing the data and subsequent data can take months.
In the case of a collision, a collision specialist may attend the scene and take photos, 3D renderings, measurements, and possibly gather overhead photos and videos utilizing a drone.
If any suspected impairment is involved then this may require the engagement of a Drug Recognition Expert or a trained officer able to obtain breath samples for any alcohol content within drivers.
Emergency Medical Service personnel may have attended and taken drivers or passengers to a hospital for medical assessment and treatment. Vehicles involved may need mechanical inspections conducted on them and/or data retrieved from onboard systems. Depending on the specifics of the collision, court orders may be required to obtain this information.
These assisting people will have gathered information, documentation and possibly other records. Police are then required to get permission or court orders to obtain information held by non-RCMP entities. This takes time.
Even once information is obtained from these various sources, it needs to be analyzed and may need to be put into court documents for disclosure in a way that makes sense and tells the story. Other experts may review the data to provide subject matter expert reports which could be a doctor to speak on what the medical evidence means or a collision reconstructionist to explain how the collision played out.
A firearm, to be considered a firearm for court purposes, needs to be tested, and this involves more than just taking it out and shooting a bullet from it. Many of the firearms involved in offences are modified. The most common modification is someone cutting off a barrel and/or stock to shorten it. Now discharging the firearm becomes riskier to the shooter so a bunch of safety precautions need to be taken. We don’t have local facilities to do this.
Locating witnesses for statements, obtaining video recordings, DNA testing and video or photograph enhancements can also extend investigative timelines.
Fraud investigations may require international court orders to obtain information from internationally based companies or locate international witnesses and suspects. Often, obtaining Canadian financial records alone can take more than two months, and the results may spur more orders, which again could take more months.
All these investigative steps are only some that can contribute to extended investigations.
– Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbown, is the NCO in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP detachment’s General Investigation Section. Stay tuned for future articles from the Lloydminster RCMP.
This column was originally published in the Dec. 19, 2024, edition of the Meridian Source.
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