RCMP Fact Sheets

Technical Operations

QUICK FACTS • Technical Operations is comprised of over 300 regular and civilian employees • Specialists within the RCMP’s Technical Operations conduct forensic examinations and analyses of audio and video recordings, and give expert testimony for court purposes.

Overview

Fighting Modern Crime
with Modern Technology

The RCMP's Technical Operations provides direct operational support, management, advice and policy in technical and specialized areas of policing to enable front-line members and partners working to enforce the law and prevent and investigate organized crime and terrorism.

We are a team of employees including police officers, civilian members and public servants working with a wide variety of technologies and techniques.

In order to bring new technology and techniques to policing, our employees engage in research; development and integration of products, systems and techniques; testing; training and direct policing operations. We collaborate closely with colleagues and front-line officers in Canadian and international police services and partner agencies to provide innovative solutions in policing technology and techniques.

Organization
Under the leadership of an Assistant Commissioner, the various program areas of Technical Operations provide services to RCMP operations, and in some cases, to the Government of Canada and the law enforcement community.

1) Air Services
The Air Services Branch provides professional pilots and technicians, applies the principles of aviation safety, and oversees the operation of the RCMP’s fleet of aircraft.

2) Behavioural Sciences
The Behavioural Sciences Branch establishes the guidelines and directions for investigative techniques based on behavioural sciences, including criminal investigative analysis, geographic profiling, and truth verification. This branch is also responsible for maintaining the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System (ViCLAS) - a computer-based analysis system for linking violent crimes - as well as the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR).

3) Departmental Security
The Departmental Security Branch researches and develops policy, guidelines, and procedures related to RCMP internal security, which includes IT, voice and data communications, personnel, physical, organizational and administrative security.

4) Protective Technical Security
The Protective Technical Security Branch helps protect Very Important Persons (VIPs), Internationally Protected Persons (IPPs) and RCMP personnel and assets by researching and providing physical security systems, including electronic and mechanical systems and armoured vehicles, at permanent sites and temporary operational sites.

5) Technical Investigation Services
Technical Investigation Services develops techniques and systems of lawful access for investigators, including electronic and physical surveillance techniques and systems, and researches and develops utilities for computer data recovery, software analysis and other forensic investigations of computers, and micro-chip based electronic devices. This area also manages the Canadian Bomb Data Centre and has the expertise to counter criminal and terrorist acts that use explosives and chemical agents.

6) Technical Security
The Technical Security Branch provides defensive technical security policies, guidelines, and consulting services to the Government of Canada.

7) Strategic Services
The Strategic Services Branch provides strategic and management services to the Technical Operations Directorate. These services include: strategic planning, coordination and management, finances, training coordination and, communication and support services. This branch also promotes and coordinates Research and Development (R&D) initiatives, assists in providing or acquiring alternative R&D funding, and provides a framework to manage Technical Operations’ technology projects.