New Tool Improves Criminal Crash Investigations
Saturday, April 7, 2012 @ 2:15 PM
RCMP officers from Traffic Services Units across BC attend a workshop on electronic file management in Prince George
Prince George, BC – The RCMP’s Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic Services Unit has proven to be a successful test site for a new tool in the effort to leave ‘no stone unturned’ in criminal motor vehicle crash investigations…
For the past year, Staff-Sergeant Pat McTiernan says his officers have been incorporating an electronic file management system into their criminal crash investigations. North District RCMP Inspector, Eric Brewer, says the RCMP began using a ‘team approach’ to investigating motor vehicle crashes involving fatalities and injuries – similar to the process used by homicide investigators – about five or six years ago. A team of officers is sent out in the early aftermath of a crash – people are added, or backed out as the situation warrants.
Brewer says incorporating this new file management system has improved the speed, flow and direction of these major files. From the outset, a file coordinator provides oversight, tasking assignments on everything from warrants for blood samples, to mechanical inspections, to witnesses to be interviewed. Brewer says the new management system lays out the process to ensure a critical, often time-sensitive piece of information is not overlooked.
McTiernan adds that, "In the past, it wasn’t uncommon for one of our investigators to be given a fatal motor vehicle crash and it was his file and he worked on it by himself and what that did is narrowed the focus of the investigation – if you have an idea of how it happened, you may not consider some of the other ideas out there." He says the team, with its briefings and brainstorming, coupled with electronically cataloging all the information ensures a broader approach to the investigation.
Both officers says the result is a more complete, more comprehensive investigation that can be easily passed to Crown Counsel, or any other agency the RCMP works with, like the BC Coroner’s Service. (At right, Staff-Sergeant McTiernan shows the physical difference – the two banker’s boxes of files pertain to one investigation. Click on photo for video clip)As for whether this new system will lead to more convictions in cases where it’s warranted, Inspector Brewer says it already has, "Because we’ve done such a comprehensive investigation and the disclosure package has been so comprehensive and timely, it makes the Crown’s job that much easier and we have had instances where people have looked at the evidence and gone, ‘We’re going to plead guilty.’"
As a result of the local pilot project, officers from Traffic Services Units around the province were here at the end of February for four days of training on the new technique. A follow-up training session to incorporate any suggestions and ‘tweaks’ is slated for this month.
Comments
Sounds like a good system. Once all thebugs are out. But let’s face it, Crown Counsel is one big spoiled brat.
I hope it makes highway closures speed up a bit but probably will make it longer
We have had all these tools at our disposal for decades, yet it never ceases to amaze me when I learn how little they are used in the real world.
One would think that they would see some of their earliest applications in any kind of police work.
I guess flat screen touch display tables with an investigation team standing around calling up integrated digital images, lab reports, witness statements, etc. through such an electronic file management system that includes decision support algorithms designed to assist the investigators are tools mainly left to TV dramas.
Real life certainly doesn’t match what happens on CSI, that’s for sure.
On TV, crimes get solved in an hour. Criminal investigative units have multi-million dollar budgets for the latest gadgets and equipment (which would become obsolete in a few months in the real world), networks never go down and everything works perfectly all the time.
“which would become obsolete in a few months in the real world”
Ah yes, now I remember why I am still using my slide rule. ;-)
Just think, they can get rid of many of these now http://images04.olx.com/ui/5/08/36/1269534009_82950236_1-Pictures-of–Used-Pre-Owned-and-New-File-Cabinets-NYC-LI-PA-NJ-Great-Prices-1-888-99Desks.jpg
and they won’t have to build an addition to their building for another 10 years.
“Criminal crash”? As opposed to “non-criminal crash”? Er,um, ah, hmmm, OK.
Gus and Harb, you guys are hilarious. How bout Civil Crash as in Dick Byl?
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