Government of Saskatchewan opens ballistics lab in Saskatoon

Saskatchewan’s new ballistics laboratory is up and running in Saskatoon.

The forensic laboratory – which will help support gun-related criminal investigations – is currently operating in a temporary location inside the headquarters of the Saskatoon Police Service. Next year, the lab is expected to move to a permanent location in the city, which is currently under construction.

Before the opening of the provincial lab, police forces in Saskatchewan were forced to rely on RCMP National Forensic Laboratory Services, which only operates out of Ottawa and Surrey. That system led to significant delays and the potential for court cases to be dismissed.

Dave Haye, acting deputy chief for the Saskatoon Police Service, suggested it sometimes would take 12 to 24 months to get a gun reviewed by the national labs.

“The opening of the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory will reduce the use of illegal firearms and gun violence in the province, helping make our communities safer,” said Paul Merriman, Saskatchewan’s minister of corrections, policing and public safety.

“We’re very excited to not have to send our ballistics outside the province to two locations in the country. (This) enables a quicker turnaround time for the local police for solving any crimes and firearms issues.”

According to the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, the new lab will be connected to the RCMP’s national network as well as the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network. It will include a variety of forensic ballistics equipment, including tools to help track specific firearms that have been used during a crime.

Today, the SPS celebrated the opening of a new ballistics lab.

Rather than recovering weapons and sending them off to Surrey or Ottawa for analysis, they can do it here.

This is expected to be speed up investigations. pic.twitter.com/nKIB6VWMh4

— Shane (@ShaneC06) May 13, 2024

“This is a big step in order to help the police forces move things along at a quicker pace, as well as the prosecutions,” said Merriman.

“I think it would save them some money, but I think it’s the time that’s more important to the police officers. We heard this from the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police that this is a priority for them. They’re frustrated with the delays. From my perspective, it’s about getting the prosecution done in a timely manor.”

Robert Freberg, Saskatchewan’s chief firearms officer, celebrated the opening of the new facility.

“Opening the lab is a critical step and we greatly appreciate the partnership with the Saskatoon Police Service that will allow the lab to operate in their facility until we can move it to its permanent home,” Freberg said in a statement.

Andrew Marek with the Saskatoon Police Service says it’s important for the province to have a facility like the ballistics lab. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

Beyond its use in specific criminal investigations, the government said the lab will also be used to “build intelligence on illegal firearms” through analysis of guns used by criminals, and will improve the ability of police to target gangs.