Press Release
A new OPP forensic identification services unit officially opened in Thunder Bay on Friday.
The state-of-the-art, 13,500-sq.-ft. building provides the OPP and Thunder Bay Police with advanced tools to analyze evidence, solve crimes, and keep northern communities safe.
It includes:
•a biohazard/chemical laboratory and bloodstain room for blood spatter examination;
•modern fingerprinting technologies; and
•a specially-designed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to reduce exposure of personnel to harmful chemicals.
“The new Thunder Bay forensic identification services unit will advance the science of criminal investigation in Northwestern Ontario and support the OPP in solving crimes and keeping our communities safe,” said Community Safety and Correctional Services minister Rick Bartolucci.
“This is a unique partnership between the Thunder Bay Police Service and the OPP that provides our community with exceptional resources to investigate crime and serve our citizens,” echoed Thunder Bay Mayor Lynn Peterson.
“This building helps provide cutting-edge technology to our police services, and saves the city taxpayers at the same time,” noted Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.
“The collection, analysis, and storage of evidence is essential to any police investigation,” stressed OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino.
“I am very pleased that this state-of-the-art facility is now making a significant contribution to public safety in the Northwest Region.”
The $6.6-million Thunder Bay facility is one of five forensic identification units the Ontario government has replaced or upgraded since 2003.
An additional eight forensic identification units will be upgraded as part of the OPP modernization project being undertaken by Infrastructure Ontario.
