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About the Major Crime Unit
During the late 1980s
and early 1990s, the complexity and length of investigations into
major crimes necessitated the restructuring of the personnel who
would be responsible for investigating serious offences.
Incidents such as the murders of Kristen French and Leslie
Mahaffey clearly provided the impetus for a more professional
approach. As a result, the Major Crime Unit was established
in the Fall of 1993.
Traditionally, the
investigation of major incidents was the responsibility of the
detective staff assigned to the community in which the incident
occurred. As this system lacked the consistency and
necessary resources, a centralized and well-trained team of
investigators was assembled to provide dedicated investigative
support. At the start, there were six (6) Detective
Sergeants and Detective Constables, who were supervised by two
Staff Sergeants and one Inspector. The unit's original
mandate included the investigation into offences like serial auto
thefts, robberies of financial institutions, complex fraud cases
and murders.
An ongoing assessment
of the unit's needs and demands, along with a commitment to the
operational capabilities of its members, resulted in the mandate
of the unit being reevaluated. With the addition of other
specialized units to address the investigation of some of the
original offenses, the Major Crime Unit was then tasked with
solely being responsible for the investigation of murders and
suspicious deaths. Consequently, the unit's staff complement
was stabilized, and the unit's focus was unified.
The current Major
Crime Unit is staffed by seven (7) Detective Sergeants and a
Detective Constable. Each officer is highly skilled and has
extensive experience in criminal investigations. The unit's
administration consists of one Staff Sergeant and the Inspector in
command of the Detective Services Division.
In response to a
report of a major incident, the unit initiates a
provincially-mandated process of investigation, whereby the
magnitude and complexity can be managed successfully, and in a
manner consistent with other Ontario police services. The
unit also provides ongoing investigation into cold cases that are
unsolved.
Crimes Under
Investigation
The Major Crime Unit is currently investigating the following
unsolved crimes: We are asking for any help that the public may be able to offer in
solving these crimes:
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