VANCOUVER — West Vancouver has joined forces with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team — a squad of police officers and civilian experts who investigate slayings in south coast communities from Whistler to Hope.
West Vancouver Police Chief Const. Len Goerke says his department linked with IHIT on Jan. 1.
The team primarily investigates homicides in RCMP jurisdictions, but Abbotsford, Port Moody and New Westminster are among the municipal police forces already benefiting from IHIT's expertise.
Because of the complexity of homicide investigations, Goerke says West Vancouver decided IHIT membership allows his department to best serve city residents.
RCMP Acting Cmdr. Dan Malo says IHIT's integration with West Vancouver will add to the team's strength and maintain its decade-long record of success cracking murder cases.
Of IHIT's 106 employees, 81 are police officers, with seven seconded from area police forces other than RCMP detachments.
