When a serious motor vehicle crash happens in New Westminster in the future – especially one that involves a death – local police will be getting some key support in their investigations.
The New Westminster Police Department announced this week that it is expanding its participation in integrated policing programs, and will be joining the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS), with a preliminary start this month.
ICARS is responsible for the forensic reconstruction of collisions that result in serious injury or death from Pemberton to Boston Bar, including RCMP jurisdictions and several municipal police agencies such Abbotsford, and West Vancouver. The unit averages over 200 calls per year, and is comprised of 20 police officers that are municipally and provincially funded.
Moving forward, collisions involving serious injury or death in New Westminster will be forensically supported by the ICARS team, while overall responsibility for the investigations will remain with the NWPD. The role of the Traffic Unit, which leads traffic safety initiatives, enforcement, and education remains unchanged.
“These investigations can be very complex and require a significant amount of training and equipment that needs to be maintained and updated,” said Deputy Chief Const. Paul Hyland, in a news release. “Joining ICARS represents our continued commitment to ensuring high-quality investigative services for New Westminster, especially given the impact serious injury or fatality collisions can have on individuals, families, friends and the community at large.”
The New Westminster Police Department already participates in a number of integrated units, such as Police Dog Services, the Emergency Response Team, and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
