. rson mvesti Fire forensic skills extend to patrol cops A NORTH Vancouver RCMP offcer has been recognized for ~his .work in: the field of arson investigation. * By Michael Becker _ News Editor Cpl. Gene. Slobod, head of the. fraud and arson’ unit for the North ~: Vancouver detachment, was recently named investigator of the year by & B.C. Chapter 15 of the International , ~ Association of Arson Investigators. Said North Vancouver RCMP * Insp. Jamie Graham, “I’m extremely” = proud’ of the. work that Cpl. Slobod his done with regards to increasing -. the. profile of our arson investiga- tions. He deserves a ton of credit.” . © ‘Graham said arson investigations’. ° ; present some of the more difficult policing work. “It requires a certain’ knack.’ Unfortunately ‘we've: had a number of fires‘on the North Shore over the-years that have needed that expertise and fortunately Gene has been there,” he .. said. ., “When: Slobod took on the task of heading the fraud and arson section in 1991; the arson side of th quation was “an an appendage of the fraud unit.” id... lecided ‘to set*it.up so that I could do the best Job T can, an Slobod remembers... /! : iHe connected’ with the two " Cpl... : focuses ‘on a training. imine the respective roles of police and fire person: nel in the event of an arson investigation. ; ‘He went about getting proper equipment for his member fratid and-arson team. They needed items such as face masks, filters and clothing. He’ made: sure’ that his squad met all fire investigators. Slobod | “A fire i investigation is essentially a a parinerhip, it's a.team. We have different: purposes, We're doing it as a criminal investigation, they” re doing it in terms of fire prevention and reporting. * Slobod said. ( While the roles differ, the goals are the same. “We want to find out what caused that fire. he said. Slobod has trained in. arson investigation through the fire commissioner's office off B.C Cc. Slobod felt there wis alsa a need tojtrain uni- . formed officers to handle basic. fire investigation. ’ ‘The fire departments agreed and they goordinated: 7.4 one-day arson seminar in November! 1994, -He “approached Dan Lemicust a North Vancouver independent retired arson) investigiior, to help out as a volun-: ; * teen They trained 16 uni- - formed North Vancou- ‘ver RCMP members. Another session was held: in April’ of: this year with 16 additional members of the North Vancouver RCMP. |: Last ..month “‘they\ . conducted a week-long ‘, es ve McCredie fi “News Editar’ - 985-2131 (rg) “LETTERS To THE EDITOR ‘Letters must Include your name,” “tull address and telephone number. Community Editor” 985-2131 (147) - COMPUTER BBS: 980- 8027 | "User ID; mailbox Password: fetters Further instructions found in News conference. laterniat: trenshaw @ ditact, ca “ NEWS photo Terry Peters . FIREFIGHTERS. STAND by as a car burns during an arson investigation training session held nor ; North Vancouver recently. Participants were able je observe how car fires spread. session at the North Vancouver District fire depan ment training centre, “Lemieux volunteered four days of his time. Slobod also brought ina coroner, a forensic . locksmith, an accelerant detector expert and sonte- body to talk about arson dogs. Said Slobod.* trained to’smell accelerants after a fire.” The dogs and waining are available through a program: operated in the U.S, and funded by an - independent insurance. company. The , program - - uses dogs taken from pounds. Two North Vancouver ‘firefighters will likely train to handJe arson, dogs in the new year. ° “We don’t have the dogs but they : “are coming to the North Shore, They are actually Rights vigil set Sunday NORTH VANCOUVER City has. proclaimed this coming Sunday as Human Rights Day. The North Shore’ Amnesty: International group, will. be holding a candlelight: vigil at the Scawalk Garden. in’ West Vancouver Dec. 10 at 6:15 p.m. The group. holds its’ next’ meeting on Jan. 29 at Highlands United Church. Call 988-1098. eels | are at 13th: Fr oman Indoor . » Christinas G urden... 1139 Consdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2d Submissions are welcome bul we cannot accept responsibility: fo4 unsolicited matesial including manuscripts and pictures, which shoutd be accompanied by a stumped. self-inkiressed envelope." - , ...ta a Basket of Flowers, Boughs and Berries cv fo warm your Peart alo -ANCIUdES save pine sofe vedframe, triple _. foam core futon, Scotchquarded futon caver." pillows and pitlow covers. While quantities tast. 267 E. Ist St. Kan) it 404 FREE DEMONSTRATI ONS » Thursday, , December 7th) 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m: ee 1:00 pm. - 5: 00 p.m. Evergreens & berries Bows, garlands in arrangements and wreaths a WEST: VAN- FLORIST “& GARDEN CENTRE. -WESTVAN 922- 417) 922. 3968 Fa: entral Ambleside, 1471B Clyde Ave.: yy + 92572833, 31; “LONSDALE * : 3rd & Lonsdale 136 West 3rd. St.