KAWARTHA LAKES-The Kawartha Lakes Police Service (KLPS) is teaming up with the Cobourg Police Service and Port Hope Police service to fund equipment required for technical investigations.
KLPS currently does not have the capacity to conduct the extraction of electronic data from cell phones or computers. Officials say this is specialized work that requires very expensive equipment, software and training to complete.
For many years KLPS has relied on the assistance of other police service to conduct this work but officials say crime has evolved in such a way that most of the major investigations now have a technical component to them. Due to the high demand, this part of the investigations can take many months to complete, as the cases of the service who owns the equipment takes precedence. This means that local police may not be able to meet the legislated disclosure timelines for this information and failing to meet these timelines may result in the charges being withdrawn by the Crown.
In an effort to expedite the process, KLPS, Cobourg and Port Hope have entered into a Section 14 agreement for technical investigations. One of the Services has the equipment and a staff member who they will provide to do the work. In return all three services will split the cost of the software. For 2025 the KLPS portion of this software would be $11,800.
“This will allow for expedited service delivery and will allow KLPS to meet legislated disclosure timelines. This option is a more budget friendly way than purchasing all of the required infrastructure and getting an officer trained to complete this work. The cost of the equipment alone far exceeds what we are being asked to pay. By joining this Section 14 agreement we will continue to improve our delivery of adequate and effective policing to our community.” said a report presented to the Police Services Board.
Chief Kirk Robertson told Kawartha 411 News the agreement will begin once the documentation is completed, approved and signed by all Boards.
