The Thunder Bay Police Service has unveiled a dedicated ballistics laboratory to conduct firearms testing and bullet recovery [1, 2].
This addition to the forensic identification unit is intended to reduce the time required to process firearms-related evidence [2, 3]. By moving these capabilities in-house, investigators can obtain critical data faster than when relying on external facilities [3, 4].
The new laboratory is located at the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters in Ontario [1, 2]. It provides the technical infrastructure necessary to perform specialized ballistics analysis on-site, a move designed to streamline the overall investigative process [3, 4].
Previously, firearms evidence often required transport to outside labs for analysis, which could create delays in active cases [3]. The new facility allows technicians to conduct testing and recover bullets without leaving the city [1, 2].
Police officials said the lab will speed up firearms investigations [3]. The capability to perform immediate testing helps forensic teams link weapons to specific crimes more efficiently [2, 4].
“The facility will allow for on-site firearms testing and bullet recovery to accelerate criminal investigations.”
The establishment of a local ballistics lab reduces the logistical dependency on regional or provincial forensic centers. This shift minimizes the chain-of-custody risks associated with transporting evidence and allows for a faster turnaround of forensic results, which can be critical during the early stages of a violent crime investigation.
