Criminal Investigation Management Plan (LE-006)

Question 1

What is the mandate of Homicide?

Answer 1

Homicide Unit is responsible for:

(i) investigating deaths where foul play is suspected;

(ii) investigating deaths of a child under the age of five years;

(iii) investigating assaults where death is imminent;

(iv) investigating reported, or suspected child abduction, or mysterious disappearance of a child under 12 years of age;

(v) investigating missing, abducted or kidnapped persons where circumstances indicate a strong possibility of foul play;

(vi) investigating cases involving unidentified human remains, where the manner of death is unknown or suspected to be homicide;

(vii) reviewing death investigation occurrences as per Procedure LE-037 Death Investigations. Homicides and Attempted Homicides;

(viii) assisting, as required, any district CIB investigation;

(ix) assisting the Chief Coroner’s “Death under Five Review Committee” and “Pediatric death Review Committee” with review of cases, as required; and

(x) acting as the York Regional Police liaison to the Office of the Chief Coroner.

Question 2

Cold Case Section is responsible for

Answer 2

(i) reviewing, updating and investigating cold case homicide and missing persons (where circumstances indicate a strong possibility of foul play) occurrences, where the lead investigator is no longer assigned to the Homicide Unit, and the occurrence has been designated a cold case by the officer-in-charge of the Homicide Unit;

(ii) investigating Cold Case Sexual Assaults and Crimes Against Children cases, where the lead investigator is no longer assigned to the Investigative Unit; and

(iii) maintaining a register of Cold Case Sexual Assaults.

Question 3

Polygraph and Investigative Interview Section is responsible for:

Answer 3

(i) conducting Polygraph examinations, with a view to:

a) obtaining court admissible statements with regard to specific criminal allegations;

b) providing assistance to investigators in ongoing criminal investigations through the elimination and/or identification of suspects;

c) validating confidential human source information with a view to assessing their reliability for search warrants and/or the undertaking of major projects; and

(ii) providing training and assistance to officers in relation to interviewing and interrogation techniques.

Question 4

Major Case Management Section is responsible for:

Answer 4

(i) providing operational and administrative support for major cases in accordance with the Ontario Major Case Management Manual, pursuant to Ontario Regulation 354/04, Police Services Act; and

(ii) providing specialized assistance to other Bureaus and Units and outside police agencies when required.

Question 5

VICLAS Section is responsible for:

Answer 5

(i) administering and reviewing VICLAS submissions and ensuring compliance, pursuant to Ontario Regulation 550/96; and

(ii) maintaining audit tracking, submitting statistical reports and providing assistance relating to the proper submission of VICLAS reports.

Question 6

Intimate Partner Violence Unit is responsible for:

Answer 6

(i) investigating and managing intimate partner violence incidents assessed and designated as high risk, or if the offender has been convicted in the last 3 years of prior intimate partner violence (this excludes matters dealt with by way of Peace Bond, Conditional Discharge and Absolute Discharge);

a) the Detective Sergeant of the Intimate Partner Violence Unit, where circumstances dictate, shall decide if the investigation should remain at the District/Bureau/Unit;

(ii) investigating and managing intimate partner violence criminal offences involving member(s) of York Regional Police, or other police agencies;

(iii) reviewing all intimate partner violence reports where a criminal offence has been alleged;

(iv) monitoring the investigative response to intimate partner violence incidents, and ensuring compliance with procedures by supervisors, officers and other members;

(v) assessing high risk factors based on the information contained within reports and the DVRMs;

(vi) representing York Regional Police on the High-Risk Intimate Partner Violence Review Committee York Region;

(vii) liaising with and notifying victims of high risk intimate partner violence;

(viii) supporting a coordinated effort, with our community partners, to ensure victims of Intimate Partner Violence have the necessary access to resources and support; and

(ix) providing education and training to law enforcement and community partners on Intimate Partner violence.

Question 7

Sexual Assault and Crimes Against Children Unit is responsible for:

Answer 7

(i) investigating allegations of sexual assault where:

a) the offender is unknown to the victim prior to the offence; or

b) the offender is known to the victim and has been investigated for sexual offences in the past, suggesting repetitive behaviour;

(ii) investigating allegations of physical assaults with injury, or evidence of an injury, and/or sexual assault when, at the time of the offence, the victim was under the age of 18 years or has a pervasive cognitive disability; and

a) the suspect was/is in a position of trust, or authority; or

b) the victim was/is in a relationship of dependency with the suspect;

(iii) investigating allegations of sexual assault when, at the time of the offence, the victim was under the age of 12 years;

(iv) investigating cases of neglect when injuries have resulted in, a life has been endangered, or where there has been a failure to provide the necessities of life, where the victim is under the age of 18 years of age, or has a pervasive cognitive disability;

(v) investigating Child Pornography or Internet Luring incidents where the victim is under 18 years of age; except for incidents when the suspect and victim(s) are under 18 years of age and the suspect can be readily identified;

(vi) providing assistance to other units with the interviewing children under 12 years of age, or people that have pervasive cognitive disabilities;

(vii) providing assistance to and monitoring unknown/unsolved sexual offender investigations.

(viii) supporting a coordinated effort, with our community partners, to ensure victims of Sexual Assault, Crimes Against Children and Internet Child Exploitation have the necessary access to resources and support; and

(ix) providing education and training to law enforcement and community partners on Sexual Assault, Crimes Against Children and Internet Child Exploitation.

Question 8

Human Trafficking Section is responsible for:

Answer 8

a) conducting investigations of alleged or suspected Human Trafficking;

b) supporting a coordinated effort, with our community partners, to ensure victims of Human Trafficking have the necessary access to resources and support;

c) providing education and training to law enforcement and community partners on Human Trafficking; and

d) supporting investigations into the sex trade.

Question 9

The Mobile & Investigative Support Unit is responsible for:

Answer 9

(i) providing support to the Major Crimes Bureau, Organized Crime Bureau, and District Criminal Investigations in the form of covert surveillance and in designated investigative capacities, upon request;

(ii) providing surveillance in support of investigations conducted by other policing agencies, upon request; and

(iii) providing subject matter experts to assist in surveillance training, in coordination with Training & Education Bureau, within York Regional Police, and to other policing agencies, upon request.

Question 10

The High Risk Offender Unit is responsible for:

Answer 10

(i) working with and assisting other York Regional Police units, outside police agencies, Correctional Services of Canada, Provincial Probation and Parole with investigations to monitor the activities of offenders;

(ii) collecting and disseminating information on Federal/Provincial parolees and high risk offenders to uniform and investigative units;

(iii) working in conjunction with the Provincial Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad to track and apprehend Federal offenders;

(iv) monitoring the Provincial and Federal Sex Offender Registries, including assessing, recording, verifying, updating and submitting information to the Ministry of the Solicitor General;

(v) assisting investigative units and the Crown Attorney’s office on all Dangerous Offender, Long Term Serious Offender (LTSO), and Section 810 applications;

(vi) tracking and managing all Dangerous Offender, LTSO and Section 810 orders for offenders residing in York Region; and

(vii) providing education and training to law enforcement and community partners on High Risk Offenders.

Question 11

the Cybercrime section, which is responsible for:

Answer 11

a) taking the primary lead in investigations of:

i) technology-as-target attacks to Region of York critical infrastructure;

ii) ransomware attacks and data breaches to medium and large size businesses (greater than 100 employees); or

iii) pure Cybercrime Criminal Code investigations (i.e. Mischief to Data or Unauthorized Use of a Computer);

b) assisting other Bureaus/Units and outside police agencies with cybercrime investigations;

c) conducting Account Takeovers, where an investigator assumes a user’s internet/social media profile for the purpose of gathering evidence through informed consent, judicial authorization and any other lawful means;

d) conducting open source investigations and forensically capture evidence; and

e) providing education and training to law enforcement and community partners on cybercrime and prevention;

f) proactively identifying and supporting community stakeholders with network infrastructure vulnerabilities; and

g) monitoring and gathering intelligence on emerging cyber threats and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies globally.

Question 12

the Computer Forensics section, which is responsible for

Answer 12

a) assisting interagency bureaus/units with the preservation and extraction of data contained on electronic devices seized during criminal investigations;

b) providing education/assistance to YRP members on proper electronic device seizure techniques and the drafting of search warrants that will stand up to the scrutiny of a court of law; and

c) providing expert testimony for the prosecution, as it relates to the seizure and extraction of electronic evidence.

Question 13

Electronic Surveillance Unit is responsible for:

Answer 13

(i) assisting investigations with the collection of electronic evidence by providing technical expertise in electronic surveillance; and

(ii) collaborating with industry partners and outside agencies.

Question 14

Project Coordination is responsible for:

Answer 14

(i) drafting applications for Part VI authorizations;

(ii) the implementation and execution of Part VI authorizations;

(iii) reviewing and providing support to investigative units in relation to proposals, applications and authorizations pertaining to electronic and technical surveillance;

(iv) the coordination of electronic and technical surveillance resources for investigative units across the York Regional Police;

(v) providing support to all members of the York Regional Police in relation to judicial authorizations and Part VI investigations; and

(vi) participating in the delivery of training related to drafting judicial authorizations.

Question 15

intercept Facility is responsible for:

Answer 15

(i) maintaining records in relation to electronic surveillance including Part VI authorizations;

(ii) maintaining and management of the operation of the York Regional Police Interception of Private Communications facility;

(iii) maintaining and coordinating monitor resources; and

(iv) coordinating the execution of electronic surveillance with telecommunication companies.

Question 16

The Special Services Section is responsible for:

Answer 16

(i) technical support in relation to physical, mobile, photographic/video surveillance, special entry and expertise in support of other investigative units;

(ii) maintaining, supplying and installation of technical equipment, while providing expertise to members and units within York Regional Police, and to other police agencies upon request;

(iii) providing a liaison between other investigative units and other outside agencies regarding the Part VI technical installations and special entries; and

(iv) assisting with maintenance and support of the operation of the York Regional Police Interception of Private Communications facility.

Question 17

Forensic Identification Unit is responsible for:

Answer 17

(i) documenting, collecting and preserving forensic evidence from crime scenes;

(ii) all training and operational needs for Archeological Recovery;

(iii) managing the forensic response regarding the discovery of archaeological type evidence;

(iv) latent print searches, comparisons, documentation and AFIS submissions;

(v) footwear and tire mark comparison identification;

(vi) chemical processing of evidence for the purpose of recovering latent prints, fibres and other trace evidence;

(vii) collecting DNA for investigative and DNA data bank purposes;

(viii) forensic mapping and crime scene reconstruction;

(ix) imaging and the production of digital images for investigative, prosecution and publicity purposes;

(x) providing forensic identification education, Forensic Identification Assistant Program and scenes of crime training and program administration;

(xi) conducting shooting reconstruction and trajectory analysis;

(xii) examination and analysis of firearms;

(xiii) the scientific examination, comparison and/or evaluation of video in legal matters; and

(xiv) video timelines, comparisons and court preparation relating to CCTV.

Question 18

Guns, Gangs and Drugs Enforcement Unit is primarily an enforcement unit that is responsible for:

Answer 18

(i) controlled drugs and substances investigations including:

a) trafficking;

b) distribution;

c) supply;

d) cultivation;

e) manufacture and/or production of Controlled Drugs and Substances; and

f) double doctoring and prescription fraud offences;

(ii) investigating persons or groups responsible for importing, trafficking or possessing firearms, explosives and ammunition;

(iii) performing targeted enforcement of known gang members and gang associates;

(iv) gambling and gaming investigations;

(v) assisting the Provincial Biker Enforcement Unit, Asian Organized Crime Task Force, and the Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit with organized crime related investigations;

(vi) providing drug expert opinion reports utilized in the criminal prosecution of CDSA and Cannabis offences;

(vii) providing support and expertise, as needed, to all members of York Regional Police in relation to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Cannabis Act, gambling offences, guns and gang related matters; and

(viii) liaising with community stakeholders to identify and target problem areas that pertain to offences within this mandate.

Question 19

Major Projects Unit is primarily an investigative unit that is responsible for:

Answer 19

(i) detecting, disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations through advanced policing techniques and dedicated resources;

(ii) leading major investigations into criminal organizations utilizing advanced investigative techniques including interception of private communications and judicial authorization; and

(iii) providing internal investigative support for the Guns, Gangs and Drugs Enforcement Unit and District CIBs.

Question 20

Traditional Organized Crime (TOC) Taskforce is responsible for:

Answer 20

(i) combating Organized Crime through investigative and enforcement strategies that identify, expose and target organized criminal networks;

(ii) investigating persons or groups associated to Traditional Organized Crime;

(iii) enforcement of known Traditional Organized Crime members and their associated businesses;

(iv) providing investigative support to all members of York Regional Police in relation to any investigation suspected or believed to be associated to Traditional Organized Crime; and

(v) working collaboratively and liaise with the Intelligence Bureau to provide investigative support.

Question 21

Financial Crimes Unit is primarily responsible for:

Answer 21

(i) investigating major incidents of: Fraud, Identity Theft/Fraud, Counterfeit Currency, and Social Service Fraud (including Children’s Services, Housing Support, Ontario Works, Financial Assistance, Newcomer Assistance) especially as it relates to organized criminal activity in York Region;

(ii) investigating and supporting investigations/projects requiring the expertise of the Asset Forfeiture and Proceeds of Crime sections of the Financial Crimes Unit in accordance with Procedure LE-041 Asset Forfeiture & Proceeds of Crime;

(iii) detecting, disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations engaging in financial crimes through advanced policing techniques and dedicated resources;

(iv) providing investigative support and subject matter expertise for fraud investigations undertaken by other commands of York Regional Police;

(v) providing training, both in person and online, to internal and external partners on fraud related matters, including fraud prevention presentations;

(vi) triaging and routing incoming fraud occurrences received by the Financial Crimes Unit in accordance with Procedure LE-038 Fraud Financial Crimes Investigations;

(vii) liaising with the Fraud Managers Working Group of participating law enforcement agencies, where matters of inter-jurisdiction triage and cooperation are established and reviewed bi-annually; and

(viii) maintaining Case Titles for all incoming files that fall under the mandate of the Major Fraud Unit for the purposes of accurate internal reporting, trend analysis, investigations and educational community response.

Question 22

Hold Up Unit is responsible for:

Answer 22

(i) investigating the following robberies:

a) robbery – financial;

b) robbery – commercial;

c) robbery – home invasion;

d) robbery – car jacking/cargo jacking;

e) robbery – ATM;

f) robbery – deposit; and

g) robberies that do not fall within the listed definitions and cannot be classified as street level robberies. This may include robberies at hotel/motel rooms, salespersons robbed of merchandise (e.g. jewellery) while in transit or robberies at industrial units used for the manufacturing of drugs. The final determination whether incidents fall under the Hold Up Unit’s mandate is the responsibility of the Detective Sergeant of the Hold Up Unit;

(ii) liaising with Hold Up units from other police agencies, Corrections Canada, the Canadian Bankers’ Association and investigators from Financial Institution Corporate Security, for the purpose of exchanging information and current robbery trends;

(iii) maintaining a database of all robbery occurrences within York Region; and

(iv) providing education relating to robberies for internal training, recruit training and the private and public sector for the purpose of crime prevention.

Question 23

Auto Cargo Theft Unit, which is responsible for:

Answer 23

a) assisting and providing expertise with investigations of organized theft rings, chop shops, auto wreckers, dealerships, theft of heavy equipment and tow companies;

b) assuming sole responsibility for investigations of all re-VINed or suspected re-VINed vehicles and all heavy equipment thefts;

c) assuming sole responsibility for investigations of all vehicles stolen in York Region and recovered outside of Ontario;

d) making random regular checks of all body shops, car lots, wrecking yards and tow companies within York Region;

e) assuming sole responsibility for cargo investigations, cargo thefts and thefts of tractor trailer units;

f) assuming sole responsibility for organized auto theft cases that are serial in nature and for profit (when practical in consultation with District CIBs);

g) sharing vehicle theft information with relevant law enforcement agencies and other organizations;

h) liaising with the following agencies:

i) Auto Theft Bureaus of other police agencies;

ii) Équité Association (previously the Insurance Bureau of Canada);

iii) International Association of Auto Theft Investigators;

iv) Canada Border Services Agency; and

v) Other federal, provincial, and municipal agencies as required.

i) maintaining a file of all known auto and cargo thieves residing within the jurisdiction of York Regional Police;

j) maintaining a file of all known auto and cargo thieves residing within the jurisdiction of York Regional Police;

k) conducting lectures relating to auto and cargo thefts for in-service training, recruit training and to responsible public groups;

l) taking lead responsibility for expert vehicle identification of suspected stolen vehicles; and

m) maintaining a data base detailing the particulars of all auto and cargo thefts occurring within the jurisdiction of York Regional Police.