PUBLICATION

PUBLICATION: Edmonton Journal

DATE: 2005.02.26

EDITION: Final

SECTION: CityPlus

PAGE: B4

BYLINE: Sarah O'Donnell, with files from Keith Gerein

SOURCE: The Edmonton Journal

DATELINE: EDMONTON

ILLUSTRATION: Photo: Journal Stock / Marshall Chalmers

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Police furious at surprise closing of local RCMP forensics lab

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EDMONTON - The RCMP's decision to close its Edmonton forensics lab is "totally unacceptable," says the president of Alberta 's Association of Chiefs of Police, who urged the police force to reconsider.

In an effort to cut costs, the RCMP said Friday it plans to shut down its Edmonton location by September, cutting the number of forensic labs across the country from six to five. Police services from across the province use the lab and will now have to mail all items for testing to Vancouver , Regina , Ottawa , Winnipeg or Halifax .

"This has caught everyone off guard," Camrose police chief and provincial chiefs' association president Marshall Chalmers said.

"We had no advance warning that decision was going to be made. There was no consultation and quite frankly we haven't received an official letter at the present time. If that is the path they're taking at this point, it's totally unacceptable for policing in the province."

Ottawa-based RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Monique Beauchamp said the decision to close the lab, at 15707 118th Ave. , will save the agency $1.2 million a year in administrative salaries, operations and maintenance. The lease on the Edmonton building is up this September, making it the best candidate for closure, she said.

The RCMP set up the Edmonton lab in 1985, using it to analyse counterfeit documents, trace evidence and study biological samples such as DNA.

Like other Alberta police forces, the Edmonton Police Service used the RCMP's lab for a wide range of tests ranging from handwriting analysis to DNA identification, EPS Insp. Brad Ward said.

Ward, in charge of the branch that deals with homicide, sexual assault and high-risk offenders, said he's concerned about the impact the shutdown will have on the speed with which the police solve crimes.

The EPS has been told to expect a delay in evidence processing, he said.

"We're concerned by any kind of delay in the ability to process exhibits," Ward said. "Forensic evidence is significant evidence in the eyes of the court, and the ability to either prove an individual linked to the crime or not linked to the crime enables the police to shorten an investigation."

But the RCMP's Beauchamp said the agency believes the move will improve efficiency. The 45 staff will be relocated in other labs so service is not being cut.

"The impact should be minimal," Beauchamp said. "If anything, in the end the service will be increased because you'll be reallocating those 45 people to the other five labs. It will be making it more efficient.

Alberta police and the solicitor general's office said their next step is to review the reasons behind the RCMP decision.

"The RCMP are mandated to provide federal laboratory services for all of Canada ," Ward said.

"If those labs are capable of meeting our needs, that would be the ideal operation. In the absence of them being able to do that, we have to explore other options."

Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said Friday she would not interfere with the RCMP's decision.

"I do not deal with operational matters as it relates to the force," she said. "I expect that the force uses its best judgment to make those decisions, and in this case they were guided, among other things, by the auditor general's report."

sodonnell@thejournal.canwest.com

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EDMONTON SUN: GUN REGISTRY HIGHER PRIORITY FOR LIBERALS THAN RCMP FORENSICS LAB

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/Article548.htm