Content
Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
PEI

New laser scanner will map crime scenes in virtual reality

Officers completed training this week with a laser device that creates 3D maps of crime scenes and car crashes. Police could also use the technology inside public buildings and Island schools, to create a catalogue of reference maps for emergency use.

Charlottetown police among first force in Canada to deploy

Brian Higgins · CBC News ·
Charlottetown police are among a handful of police forces in Canada with this type of 3D laser-scanning technology. (Brian Higgins/CBC)

Charlottetown police fired live ammunition into a car at a shooting range near Charlottetown Thursday.

A 3D laser scanner then measured the angle and depth of the bullet holes, and told police where the shooters had stood as the shots were fired.

3D laser scanner training results

6 years ago
Duration 0:25
3D laser scanner training results

It marked a key step in a training course completed this week by five Charlottetown police officers. Laser scanners are widely used by police in Europe and the U.S.

Charlottetown police, RCMP and Toronto police are among the handful of Canadian police forces now using the technology.

"Canada is newer at this," said Eugene Liscio, the course trainer. "This really puts Charlottetown at the forefront of this type of technology."

Police say the laser scanner will be used frequently on the scene of traffic collisions. (ai2-3d.com)

Charlottetown police say the device will likely be used frequently at accident scenes, where precise measurements are key to understanding what happened in a car crash. It will also be used in cases of sudden death, to catalogue the exact location of a body in relation to its surroundings.

Make schools safer

Police believe the device can also make schools safer. The scanner could be used inside school buildings to create 3D maps of every classroom, hallway, entrance and exit.

"We'll have a virtual fly through of a building, invaluable in times of crisis," said Brad MacConnell, Charlottetown Deputy Chief. "[It would] up our game in our safe-schools approach."

Training of the officers on the $105,000 device is now complete. It will be put into use for the first time as soon as it is needed, according to MacConnell.

More P.E.I. news

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Higgins

Former CBC videojournalist

Brian Higgins joined CBC Prince Edward Island in 2002, following work in broadcasting and print journalism in central Canada. He follows law courts and justice issues on P.E.I., among other assignments. He retired in 2023.

    CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News
    Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|