Investigative Services Branch units are made up of uniquely trained officers who specialize in specific kinds of investigations. These investigations are complex and require a tremendous depth of work and knowledge to conduct.
MAJOR CRIMES UNIT
The general investigators of the Major Crimes Unit are tasked with a variety of cases inluding homicides, aggravates assaults, sexual assaults and other serious violent offences. The range of case types require the general invsetigators to be among the most flexibile within the branch.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE UNIT
The rate of Intimate Partner Violence in Thunder Bay is among the highest in the country, which is why this police service needs the dedicated invsestigative expertese of the IPV Unit. In addition to invsetigating cases of IPV, this unit also features invsetigators who are specially trained to handle complex human trafficking cases.
CYBER CRIME UNIT
Investigators within the Cyber Crime Unit are best known for investigating cases of child exploitation online, however, in recent years their knowledge has proved invaluable to investigations outside their unit. Elements of Cyber Crime can be found within cases from thefts to homicides, meaning their skillset is called upon by nearly every TBPS investigator.
BREAK AND ENTER AND ROBBERY (BEAR) UNIT
This specialty investigative unit was created in response to the ongoing high prevalence of break and enters, thefts and robberies. But beyond investigating break and enter cases, BEAR Unit members are often called upon to arrest high-risk suspects wanted on warrants, and assist other units with high-risk arrests or warrant executions.
INTELLIGENCE UNIT
Also known as the Guns and Gangs Unit, members of the Intelligence Unit focus on combatting drug trafficking and organized crime. The members of this unit are an essential response to the growing frequency of crimes involving firearms, along with a trend of out-of-district drug traffickers travelling to this community exclusively to commit crimes and victimize our most vulnerable citizens.
FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION UNIT
Forensic evidence is crucial in most serious investigations, and thus the Forensic Identification officers are critical members of the Investigative Services Branch. These officers will enter crime scenes and expertly collect and analyze evidence that will help solve crimes. The tools and techniques these offers use are sophisticated and necessary in modern policing.
OTHER INVESTIGATIVE ROLES:
A number of officers working alongside members of the Major Crimes Unit's general investigation team have specialized roles. The special training and knowledge these officers possess are critical in creating a Major Crimes Unit that can adequately service all the community's needs. These special investigative roles include:
- Missing Persons Investigator
- Sex Offender Registry Officer
- Elder Abuse Investigator
- Child Abuse Investigator
- Economic Crime Invsetigator