Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch investigated a record 66 homicide cases in 2020, up from 55 in 2019.
RCMP said the branch’s Major Crimes Unit also conducted 10 death, or missing persons, investigations and provided assistance in a number of other investigations across the province.
Police said while annual homicide rates can fluctuate, the unit has seen the province’s homicide rate increase over the past several years.
General Investigations Sections of the RCMP were also busy last year. In 2020, they provided support to detachments in over 200 cases involving assaults, sexual assaults, attempt murder, and other serious matters.
GIS investigators assigned to Child Advocacy Centres throughout Alberta also helped provide important multi-agency “wrap around” service to victims of child abuse, conducting over 1,400 child interviews.
The branch’s Missing Persons Unit reviewed 2,344 missing person files and was involved in a total of 809 cases. Fourteen people are yet to be found.