Investigative Services – West Shore RCMP

West Shore RCMP Investigative Services handles serious and complex criminal investigations in the community. This team investigates crimes such as armed robberies, serious assaults, sexual offences, complex frauds, drug offences, and large thefts. They also assist with investigations involving suspicious deaths, missing persons where there are concerns for foul play, and other sensitive or high-risk incidents. 

West Shore RCMP Investigative Services consists of:

Special Victims Unit:

• The West Shore RCMP Special Victims Unit (SVU) is responsible for investigating sexually based offences, which are often complex, sensitive, and required a specialized and trauma-informed approach. The unit is staffed by specially trained investigators with expertise in managing high-risk and vulnerable victim files.
• Offences involving intimate partner violence are complex and often present a higher risk to victims and family members. SVU also has an officer who is dedicated to reviewing and investigating offences involving intimate partner violence. 

General Investigation Section:

• West Shore RCMP’s General Investigation Section (GIS) team is responsible for leading large-scale and complex investigations. They also provide additional support, service training, and guidance to Frontline officers. The majority of the unit’s workload involves violent crime; however, GIS also investigates suspicious deaths, serious workplace injuries and fatalities, and reports involving Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (commonly referred to as child pornography).

Economic and Cyber Crime Unit:

• Cybercrime investigations continue to represent a significant and growing demand for West Shore RCMP. Between 2021 and 2025, cybercrime files increased by approximately 200 percent, rising from 185 files in 2021 to 556 files in 2025. In response to this growth, West Shore RCMP created the Economic and Cyber Crime Unit in December 2025.  These investigations are often complex and time-intensive, involving extensive digital evidence collection, financial analysis, and coordination with external partners. 

Crime Reduction Unit:

• The Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) focuses on property crime and repeat offenders. The unit works closely with Frontline officers on initiatives such as curfew and house-arrest compliance checks, ensuring individuals follow court-ordered conditions. CRU also partners with local businesses and loss prevention officers to proactively address shoplifting and related offences. Through targeted enforcement, surveillance, and information sharing, officers are often able to arrest offenders, recover stolen property, and return it to businesses, helping improve public safety and reduce repeat victimization.

Drugs and Organized Crime:

• The West Shore RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Unit (DOCU) is responsible for targeting drug trafficking within the West Shore, which is directly linked to organized crime. These investigations can be lengthy as investigators must conduct surveillance, gathering evidence over time that often results in executing search warrants on properties where drug trafficking is taking place.  In addition to enforcement, DOCU delivers the Inadmissible Patrons Program (IPP), working with local businesses to reduce the impacts of organized crime and enhance community safety.