City police to create intelligence bureau

A new city police intelligence and investigations bureau will focus on the quality of information, not quantity.

A comprehensive review of the intelligence model in 2014 revealed the need to “create better efficiencies, such as centralizing resources and creating more efficient methods of managing information,” said Staff Sgt. Warren Driechel, in an email.

A recently released annual policing plan said the creation of the new bureau “is expected to take several years.”

Driechel said once fully operational, the bureau will enable the force to explore opportunities for a more predictive crime model as well as ensuring “timely delivery of pertinent and critical intelligence to investigators.”

“This centralization will create better efficiencies and communication between intelligence analysts and work units across the organization,” he said.

“The focus is not so much on trying to gather more, but rather collecting and developing intelligence that is critical to police work.”

Driechel said the bureau will also aim to “create efficiencies by leveraging technology.”

“The technology landscape is always evolving and constantly changing,” he said. “Engaging new technologies will allow for better situational awareness, and the ability to sort through large amounts of data.”

The new bureau will be housed in a yet to be identified Operations and Intelligence Command Centre (OICC), also a new concept for the city police force, but one being deployed by other police agencies nationally and worldwide, Driechel said.

“The OICC will be a 24/7 centre comprised of operational and intelligence personnel responsible for operational command and active intelligence analysis,” he said.

Although early in development, it is proposed that new centre will be staffed with a commander, investigators and crime analysts, he said.