Command Triangle and Investigative Team for Major Case Management

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Definitions

Command Triangle: Consists of the Team Commander, Primary Investigator and File Coordinator for a Major Case investigation, who, in addition to their individual responsibilities, are jointly involved in making key decisions about the investigation.

File Coordinator: A member of the Command Triangle that reports directly to the Team Commander and is responsible for establishing the business rules and system protocols; assessing investigative material and ensuring complete tasking which includes that investigative strategies are completed; and where applicable, disclosure and prosecution support is provided.

Investigative Team: Police officers and civilian staff assigned to a Major Case investigation on a permanent or temporary basis, including the Command Triangle.

Major Case: For the purpose of these Standards, includes:

(a) The types of investigations listed in Standard (1) of BCPPS 5.2.1 Threshold and Reporting; 
(b) Any other investigation, including a type or category of investigation, or a particular investigation, which the Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner, or a delegate thereof, has determined, with due regard to the factors listed in Standard (3) of BCPPS 5.2.1 Threshold and Reporting, requires Major Case Management.

Major Case Management: A methodology for managing major incidents that provides accountability, clear goals and objectives, planning, utilization of resources, and control over the speed, flow and direction of an investigation. 

Officer: A constable appointed under the Police Act or an enforcement officer appointed under section 14.15 of the Police Act.

Primary Investigator: A member of the Command Triangle that reports directly to the Team Commander and is responsible for controlling the speed, flow and direction of the overall investigative process.

Team Commander: A member of the Command Triangle and the person to whom overall authority, responsibility and accountability for an investigation are conferred, including its resources (human and physical) and mandate, and adherence to the principles of Major Case Management.

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Standards

Command Triangle

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner must ensure that:

(1) A Command Triangle is formed for all Major Case investigations, as soon as reasonably possible given the circumstances and the needs of the investigation, with Officers assigned to the following roles:

(a) Team Commander;
(b) Primary Investigator; and
(c) File Coordinator.

Team Commander

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, Commissioner or Chief Civilian Director of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) must ensure that:

(2) An Officer assigned to the role of Team Commander for a Major Case investigation, or an IIO investigator assigned to the role of Team Commander for the investigation of an incident where a person may have died as a result of the actions of an Officer, whether on or off duty:

(a) Has experience relevant to the type of investigation; and
(b) Meets each of the following criteria:

(i) Successful completion of a provincially-approved Team Commander training course;
(ii) Previous experience in the role of Primary Investigator or File Coordinator;
(iii) Previous investigative experience in a supervisory or management role; and
(iv) No disciplinary records of serious misconduct that would affect their ability to perform the duties of Team Commander.

(3) Notwithstanding Standard (2)(b)(i) above, an Officer assigned to the role of Team Commander on a Major Case investigation prior to the effective date of these Standards, who has completed other Team Commander or Major Case Management training, may continue to be assigned to the role of Team Commander.

Primary Investigator

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, Commissioner or Chief Civilian Director of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) must ensure that:

(4) An Officer assigned to the role of Primary Investigator for a Major Case investigation, or an IIO investigator assigned to the role of Primary Investigator for the investigation of an incident where a person may have died as a result of the actions of an Officer, whether on or off duty:

(a) Has investigative experience relevant to the type of investigation; and
(b) Has successfully completed: 

(i) A provincially-approved Major Case Management training course; and
(ii) Training in Major Crime investigative techniques.

(5) Notwithstanding Standard (4)(b) above, an Officer assigned to the role of Primary Investigator prior to the effective date of these Standards, who has completed other Major Case Management and major crime investigative techniques training, may continue to be assigned to the role of Primary Investigator.

File Coordinator

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, Commissioner or Chief Civilian Director of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) must ensure that:

(6) An Officer assigned to the role of File Coordinator for a Major Case investigation, or an IIO investigator assigned to the role of File Coordinator for the investigation of an incident where a person may have died as a result of the actions of an Officer, whether on or off duty:

(a) Has appropriate experience for the anticipated complexity of the investigation; and
(b) Has successfully completed a provincially-approved file coordination training course.

(7) Notwithstanding Standard (6)(b) above, an Officer assigned to the role of File Coordinator prior to the effective date of these Standards, who has completed other file coordination training, may continue to be assigned to the role of File Coordinator.

Investigative team

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner must ensure that:

(8) The Team Commander establishes, maintains and adjusts an Investigative Team commensurate with the needs of the investigation, prosecution and disclosure.

(9) The Team Commander ensures that all members of the Investigative Team have the appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities required to undertake their assigned role(s) or function(s).

(10) All persons participating in the investigation, their role(s) or function(s), and the dates of their involvement are documented.

Policies and procedures

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner must ensure that:

(11) Policies and procedures are consistent with these BC Provincial Policing Standards.