Experienced Police Officer Program - Serious Crimes Branch

The Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch (SCB) is responsible for leading and supporting investigations throughout the province, and has a number of specialized streams providing expertise. The SCB conducts advanced investigations, exceeding the capabilities of most RCMP detachments and investigative units in the province. The branch also provides guidance and mentorship to investigators in a variety of circumstances where local resources may not have experience in a particular type of investigation.

Units in this branch investigate a wide range of incidents, such as homicides, serious persons crimes (including child abuse), and multi-jurisdictional or complex files.

The Serious Crimes Branch is comprised of the following units:

• Behavioural Sciences Group (BSG)

  The BSG was established due to the increasing need to provide support services through the use of behavioural science-based investigative tools. Within this group, are sub-units providing specific expertise.

  • High Risk Offender Program (HROP)

    This program is a partnership between Police, Corrections, the Crown, and Court. The provincial protocol was created to facilitate a measured response by Alberta police services when dealing with individuals who are believed to present a risk of significant harm to the health and safety of any individual. The HROP works to place offenders on peace bonds where appropriate, and assist with managing them in the community.

  • Sex Offender Registry

    The Sex Offender Registry is the central unit coordinating all police activity in support of the Sex Offender Information Registration Act (SOIRA) for all Municipal and First Nations Police Services, and the RCMP in Alberta. This unit administers the National Sex Offender Registry in Alberta, managing all Alberta data and monitoring offender-reporting obligations.

  • Threat Evaluation and Management (TEM)

    This unit is comprised of specially trained investigators who provide a proactive approach to preventing violence. The primary focus is to address valid threats to members and criminal justice officials. Members in this unit regularly consult with frontline officers regarding complaints of school, domestic, or workplace violence, and in some cases, threats to community groups.

  • Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System (ViCLAS)

    VICLAS is a Canada-wide computer system that assists specially trained investigators to identify serial crimes and criminals by focusing on the linkages that exist among crimes by the same offender. All police services in Canada contribute to ViCLAS by submitting information about the violent crime investigations undertaken in their jurisdictions. This unit is responsible for reviewing and analyzing the Violent Crime Analysis Reports of the RCMP in multiple provinces/territories, and all municipal police services, as well as the Department of National Defense within Alberta.

• Child and Youth Advocacy Centres (CYAC)

  These centres are located in a number of communities throughout Alberta, providing wrap-around services to child victims of abuse. They are staffed by a variety of support services and government agencies, including police. There are Alberta RCMP child forensic interviewers in four of these centres: Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, and Red Deer. Investigators assigned to the CYAC's are subject matter experts with specialized training and experience in chid interviewing.

• General Investigation Section (GIS)

  Located in Edmonton and Airdrie, the GIS provides investigative services in a broad range of areas. Members in this area supplement the investigative needs of detachments throughout Alberta, and provide additional ongoing, long-term, investigational and/or project support to assist detachments with their serious crimes investigations.

• Historical Homicide Unit (HHU)

  Based in Edmonton, the HHU is responsible for the investigation of unsolved homicides within Alberta. Members in this unit review, assess, prioritize, and investigate historical homicides in RCMP jurisdiction within Alberta, using advanced, complex investigative techniques.

• Interview Assistance Team (IAT)

  IAT members are subject matter experts in the area of suspect interviews, complicated or difficult witness interviews, non-jeopardy interviews and criminal history interviews. The team is predominantly involved in planning, preparation and execution of interviews for very serious or organized crime, matters of national security, interviews for potential police agents and all other matters of a sensitive or serious nature. IAT usually deploys as a team and uses the RCMP Phased Interview Model for suspects. IAT is available to conduct the interview anywhere and travel throughout Canada and internationally when required.

• Major Crimes Unit (MCU)

  The unit consists of investigative teams located in Edmonton and Airdrie. Their primary function is to conduct homicide investigations for Alberta RCMP detachments, Indigenous police services, and independent municipal police agencies. The MCU may also investigate conspiracies to commit murder, suspicious deaths, and suspicious missing persons. Investigators with the MCU will be expected to commit to an on-call schedule and travel throughout Alberta.

• Missing Persons Unit (MPU)

  Located in Edmonton, the MPU provides support to RCMP detachments across Alberta, investigating reports of missing persons. Investigators in this unit also assist with preparing and/or reviewing applications for orders under the Missing Persons Act.

• Truth Verification Section (TVS)

  The primary function of this section is to provide polygraph services on investigations ranging from theft to murder. In addition, TVS also provides polygraph services in support of RCMP recruiting, with the provision of pre-employment polygraph testing.

Date modified:

2023-11-09