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Assistance

Crime Scenes

Other Duties

Forensic Identification Section



Footwear Comparisons Forensic Identification Services (FIS) is a support service for the police service, other city departments, outside agencies and the general public. This support takes many forms and includes: Attendance at crime scenes to record evidence with both conventional and video photography; the gathering of physical evidence including latent prints and trace evidence for further examination in the FIS office or at another forensic laboratory. FIS is also responsible for the keeping of fingerprints, palm prints and photographs of all persons charged with dual and/or indictable offences. Photographs taken by the section are printed using either the conventional darkroom method or by computer imaging.


FIS offers assistance with:

  • the printing of images from crime scene videos recorded by victims such as banks and/or stores;
  • photo line-ups using conventional photography as well as computer scanned images;
  • the copying of outside photographs with conventional photography as well as computer scanned images;
  • sending and receiving images via the photophone;
  • fingerprinting persons for criminal and elimination purposes.
  • fire investigations;
  • photography, including photographic duplication and portraits;
  • counterfeit examination; serial number restoration; physical matching; video and audio tape duplication;
  • other duties as required.


Fingerprinting Tools

FIS is currently staffed by four sworn members and one full-time civilian.

Ident Accessories FIS attends many crime scenes, including:

  • Homicides
  • Suspicious Deaths
  • Break, Enter and Thefts
  • Theft from Vehicle
  • Recovered Stolen Vehicles
  • Various levels of Assaults
  • Arsons
  • Robberies
  • Home Invasions
  • Drug Labs
  • Marihuana Grow Operations
  • Serious Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Damage to property
  • Other crime scenes upon request.


Other duties performed by FIS include:

  • Attending the morgue to fingerprint deceased persons to clear criminal record files and confirm identity;

  • Photographing victims' injuries, property for court purposes and historical events, such as the annual Mess Dinner, awards ceremonies, etc;

  • Providing photographs of suspects and crime scenes to Crown Counsel for court purposes;

  • Providing fingerprint certificates to Crown Counsel for court purposes under 667 CCC;
  • Providing photographs to non-police agencies such as lawyers and ICBC as requested; (A fee is charged for this service.)

  • Providing photographs and fingerprints to other police agencies via mail, photophone and/or e-mail;

  • The filing of new C-216's (fingerprint forms);



    • Fingerprinting Station

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