Often in media releases about police incidents, you may see that someone has been charged, yet the investigation is noted to be ongoing. This may strike some people as odd — shouldn’t the investigation be complete if someone was charged? Not always.
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Some incidents are fairly straightforward and don’t involve a lot of moving parts. Others are more complicated and require many tasks to be completed long after the initial police response at the scene. For instance, attending a dispute where one person punched another wouldn’t likely take much follow-up investigation, aside from gathering medical records in the event of an injury.
For police to arrest someone and lay a charge, we need reasonable and probable grounds to believe an offence was committed, which requires evidence. Most often, there is enough initial evidence to support a charge. However, for a court to convict a person, a higher standard of proof is required: proof beyond a reasonable doubt. This is where follow-up investigation becomes essential.
Generally, the longest delays occur when we need to send exhibits away for processing. Items may be sent to a specialized unit to extract digital evidence from a phone or computer, or sent to a laboratory to analyze physical evidence such as DNA. Because it is unknown when — or if — useful evidence will be returned from these specialized services, media releases will state that the investigation is ongoing.
If we do retrieve evidence from seized items, further follow-up tasks are required to link that new evidence specifically to a suspect or scene. This may involve drafting an Information to Obtain (ITO) to secure search warrants or court orders, all of which takes time.
Police may also need to take statements from witnesses who left the scene before officers arrived, or conduct secondary interviews as new details emerge. Locating individuals who live out of the area or are transient can also add to the timeline.
Additionally, investigators often need time to strategize complex investigative techniques, some of which cannot be discussed publicly. When using non-typical methods, we consult with legal experts to ensure our approach complies with the law and relevant case law, giving us the best chance of lawfully obtaining evidence.
Other delays simply stem from availability — such as waiting on specific security personnel who hold the sole access needed to extract video footage.
Until officers have gathered and processed evidence, the investigation will remain active and ongoing.
Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbown is the NCO in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP detachment’s General Investigation Section. Stay tuned for future online columns from the Lloydminster RCMP.
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