New OPP Forensic Identification Facility For Thunder Bay

Many existing Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) facilities are beyond their useful life (40-50 years). The McGuinty government is making significant investments to replace or upgrade facilities for front-line police officers to reflect Ontario's changing demographics, increased standards and new technological requirements.

OPP forensic identification units are responsible for crime scene management and for evidence processing in support of the investigation and prosecution of crimes. Forensic identification unit members collect evidence at crime scenes and then transport it to the unit facility where it is further examined and processed for additional evidentiary information, such as fingerprints, footwear and tire impressions, as well as trace evidence, such as blood, hair and fibres. The integrity and continuity of this evidence is paramount from the time it is collected to the time it is presented in court.

The new OPP forensic identification unit in Thunder Bay is part of the overall strategy to enhance and use state-of-the-art technologies to collect and process forensic evidence in an environment that protects front-line personnel.

The new Thunder Bay building incorporates many of the latest technologies available to apprehend and convict offenders. The lab area consists of four biohazard suites. Each suite contains:

• Gown-up area

• Anteroom

• Biohazard room (five in total)

• Gown-down area.

One of the suites has been designed to have a biohazard/chemical room while another contains a bloodstain room for blood spatter examination.