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Forensic Identification Section







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  RCMP Identification Section

Red Deer City Detachment, Red Deer Rural Detachment and the Central Alberta Region rely on the service of four forensic specialists (commonly referred to as Identification members).

A Forensic Identification Specialist is a regular member of the RCMP who has applied for and taken extensive training in Fingerprint Identification and Physical Evidence Identification. The Identification member, once fully trained, cannot make an error in an Identification as they will not be allowed to provide Expert evidence and would be removed from the Forensic Identification Program.

A Forensic Identification Section member (FIS) is trained to:

  • Attend and analyze crime scenes for forensically significant evidence.
  • Record crime scenes with photographs and video tape to present in a court of law.
  • Measure crime scenes in order to produce scale drawings.
  • Conduct scientific research on various aspects of Forensic identification work.
  • Recognize, search for and recover all forms of forensic identification evidence for analysis.
  • Analyze, compare and identify fingerprint evidence.
  • Analyze, compare and identify physical evidence including footwear, glove impressions, tire impressions and other physical matches (i.e. Tail light paper, tape etc.).
  • Search for, recognize and recover other forms of evidence (chemical, biological, blood stain patterns) for Forensic Laboratory analysis.
  • Prepare demonstrative evidence in the form of charts, drawings and photographs to be tendered as evidence.
  • Provide Expert evidence in court in relation to the comparison and identification of fingerprints and physical evidence.

All RCMP officers are trained in the collection and processing of evidence as well as provided with guidance and protocols in order to understand when it is essential to call the Identification Section for assistance. The RCMP Investigating Officer will determine whether a crime scene requires the expertise of a FIS Member.

The most common crime scenes we go to include:

  • Break and Enter (theft from households, businesses, cars).
  • Robbery (theft from an individual).
  • Drug Operations (e.g. "Grow Ops", "Meth" Labs).
  • Auto theft and theft from vehicles.
  • Sexual Assault.
  • Hit and Run.
  • Attempted murder.
  • Suspicious Deaths (e.g. suicides, accidental deaths).
  • Homicide.