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CBRPS

General Investigation Section

The GIS section has one Sergeant and six Constables, and falls under the Criminal investigation Division of the CBRPS.

The section investigates crimes such as Armed Robbery, Sexual Assault, Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Fraud, Major Thefts, Suspicious or Sudden Deaths and is also responsible for investigating all youth-related crimes. including internet crimes against children.

Investigators also assist Patrol officers, the Major Crime Unit and the Traffic Safety Unit with complex investigations. 

Internet Crime Unit

The Internet Crime Enforcement (ICE) Unit investigates web-based crimes including Fraud, threats, harassment, internet child luring, and possession/distribution of child pornography. The duties associated with investigating these types of crimes may include search warrants and forensic examination of computers and other storage devices seized by police that could contain evidence of a crime.

The ICE Unite is also responsible for promoting internet safety through presentations to community groups, schools and universities. 

Here are some things to remember when browsing the web:

  • Never give out any personal information.
  • Never plan to meet someone alone who you have only spoken to on the internet.
  • Create a password for your computer /accounts that is hard to guess and change it often.
  • Monitor your credit card bills for any unanticipated purchases that have been made online.
  • Install an anti-virus program and keep it up to date.
  • Scan all received files with an up to date virus scanner before opening them.

The ICE Unit works to protect our community from internet crime. If you are the victim of any web-based crime, please report it to police at 563-5151 or through Canada’s National Reporting website www.cybertip.ca.

Forensic Identification Unit

The Forensic Identification Unit - consisting of one Sergeant and three Constables - attends all major crime scenes to record, gather and process any physical evidence. This includes hair, fibre, blood, fingerprints, footwear, tire impressions and any other articles. These specialists are responsible for reporting to investigators, processing evidence and testifying in court. They forward all evidence requiring chemical, DNA or firearm examination to the forensic laboratories. They are highly skilled in photography, collecting fingerprints, physical matching and bloodstain analysis.

Forensic Identification Specialists attend the Canadian Police College in Ottawa for basic FIS training and attend other police facilities for advanced training.

General duties at a Crime Scene include:

  • Photography and video
  • Examination for fingerprints and footwear impressions
  • Examination for tire impressions and trace evidence
  • Death Scene investigations - Determination of cause of death
  • Fire scene investigations
  • Physical matching of evidence
  • DNA collection and processing
  • Motor Vehicle Accident investigations
  • Sexual Assault investigations
  • Break and Enter investigations
  • Digital imaging and enhancements
  • Photo line-up processing
  • Plan drawings and graphic arts
  • Exhibit processing and storage

Members of the Forensic Identification Unit work closely with the Forensic Laboratories (RCMP and Independent), the Medical Examiner’s Office of Nova Scotia, and the Office of the Fire Marshall for Nova Scotia, along with several other professional agencies.

Major Crime Unit

The Major Crime Unit (MCU) handles the investigations for all major criminal offenses, including: murder, attempted murder, sexual assaults, historical sexual assaults and fraud. They work closely with Public Prosecution Services, Victims Services, and other police agencies throughout the course of their investigations.  

The Major Crime Unit is also responsible for all Domestic Violence incidents; they review and track all reported complaints and followup as required - investigations, statements, arrests and court testimony. They work in direct partnership with the CBRPS Domestic Violence Case Coordinator, participate in safety planning for victims,  and conduct presentations on dating abuse and the impact of domestic abuse on youth, to school and university students. Outside partnerships are an important part of this work, including the Inter-Agency on Family Violence, Cape Breton Transition House, Victim Services, Children’s Aid Society and Corrections Services.  

Polygraph Unit

The Polygraph Unit has certified examiners who conduct polygraph tests for criminal investigations and pre-employment screening.

When conducting a polygraph test, an instrument is used to measure the person’s body physiology. It then records the responses to the polygraph charts and the polygraph examiner analyzes the charts to determine if the person involved was being truthful or not.

In addition to testing, polygraph examiners also assist with other parts of investigations, including reviewing files, conducting interviews and analyzing statements.

Interesting fact: The polygraph test is often referred to as a “lie detector test” but a more appropriate name would be “Truth Verification Test” because most people tested (approx. 80%) are found to be telling the truth.

Street Crime Unit

The Street Crime Unit responds primarily to complaints and incidents of illegal drug activity, including importation, cultivation and distribution, as well as the collection of information from sources. Their main priority is to reduce the number of individuals involved in the distribution and consumption of illegal drugs, especially prescription pills.

Prescription pain killers - Oxycodone, Hyrdomorphone, Percodan, Percocet, Morphine - continue to be the most commonly seized drug in the CBRM. Because of their highly addicitve quality, Ocycodone and Hydromorphone are particularly dangerous; they appear to be the greatest contributor to the rising number of habitual drug users in our region. Street Crime officers learn of new people involved in the illegal use of prescription pills almost every day.

An aggressive approach towards street-level drug distribution has decreased the number of serious issues connected to it. There are fewer drug-related deaths and lower crime rates; the Street Crime Unit continues to expand on its knowledge base, awareness and abilities in drug investigations to help continue reducing the drugs and crime throughout the CBRM.

CISNS 

The Cape Breton Regional Police Service is one of eight field offices for the Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia (CISNS), which operates to collect and share information to obstruct and dismantle groups participating in organized crime. Working with CISNS is one of several steps the CBRPS takes to reduce the amount of crime across the CBRM.

Please visit Criminal Intelligence Service Canada for more information.