New gun lab to aid Calgary police in arrests, convictions

Calgary policeunveiled a new tool to aid with crime scene investigation today byopeningits newForensic Firearms andToolmarkLab.

The centreis the first fully functional municipal firearms lab to be built in the past 65 years and it's only the second municipal lab of its kind in Canada.

The firearmslab was made possible through funding from the provincial government andwill reduce the turnaround time toprocesslocal crime scene evidence and obtainforensic results.

Chief Rick Hanson says the growth of the forensics unit has assisted in arrests and convictions in Calgary.

"The reality is there is no tougher job in policing than having to go to a scene where something bad has happened.It's not as glamorous as theCSIfolks make it out to be on TVit's hard slogging," he said.

The Forensics Firearms andToolmarkLab will save time by being able to process more results on site.

The lab is housed in a customized40-foot soundproof trailer in the parking lot of the Forensic Centre in southeastCalgary.Forensic scientist Darryl Barr says the new facility is a real improvement.

"Prior to this facility we were restricted to examining only bullets and cartridge cases from shooting scenes and now we are able to do the full set of forensic analysis onfirearms that are seized," he said.

Calgary police also marked its100thanniversary of it's first crime scene bureau, which opened in 1913 with one detective and constable.The officers were responsible for collecting evidence by taking photographs, filing descriptions and making identifications.

DNA samples wanted upon arrest

Hanson said the new firearms lab will help Calgary police lead the way in forensic investigations, but he alsowants officers to have thepower to collect DNA samples at the same time they take fingerprints upon arrest.

"At some point in time, the identification of criminals act will be modified we hope in policing so we can take DNA samples on arrest so we know that we truly have the right bad guy," he said.

The federal government is considering expanding its authority to take DNA samples from arrested suspects.
But Ian Savage, the president of the Calgary-based Criminal Defence Lawyers Association,saysthe government would beinfringing on people's rights.

"We're all entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law, and the right not to have our personal privacy invaded by the police without proper cause," he said.

Currently, Canadian law does allow for DNA samples to be taken from certain convicted individuals in a limited capacity.