New laser scanner will map crime scenes in virtual reality

Charlottetown policefired live ammunition intoa car at a shooting range near Charlottetown Thursday.

A 3D laser scanner then measured the angle and depth of the bullet holes, andtold police wherethe shooters had stood asthe shots were fired.

3D laser scanner training results

6 years ago

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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 thehandful 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."

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

Make schools safer

Police believe the devicecan also make schools safer. Thescanner could be used inside schoolbuildings to create 3D maps of every classroom, hallway, entrance and exit.

"We'll have a virtualfly throughof a building,invaluable in times of crisis," said Brad MacConnell, Charlottetown Deputy Chief."[It would] upour 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.

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