Enhanced Night-Time & Restricted Visibility Capabilities

Sponsoring Member: Graham Webb

FLIR Camera and Monitor

The FLIR (M-626L) Thermal Imaging Camera System, (Forward Looking Infra-Red Camera) with marine monitor, has been fitted to the Vancouver Police 33-foot patrol vessel “R.G.McBeath VC,” courtesy of funds provided by the Vancouver Police Foundation and the Department itself.

The system has four times the resolution and twice the range of earlier models, and incorporates a separate low-light camera. Both cameras in the system have 360-degree coverage on a horizontal plane, and 90-degrees on a vertical plane. The camera and monitor are operated from within the vessel, and give the vessel crews a night-time and restricted visibility capability that they did not previously have.

As the only full-time Marine Unit in the Lower Mainland, the Thermal Imaging unit allows the VPD Marine Unit to be more effective and pro-active in crime prevention, community policing, and security patrols, within the large maritime and foreshore environments. Safer and earlier resolution of suicide incidents on city bridges, as well as enhanced navigation with search and rescue capabilities, are other advantages the FLIR M-626L gives the VPD Marine Unit.

Comments from Graham Webb

“In November 2009 the Marine Unit conducted a search of the Stanley Park sea wall for a suicidal female reported to be in the Brockton Point area. The FLIR allowed myself and the crew of the RG McBeath to quickly eliminate the sea wall and foreshore as a search area. We were then able to transition to a foot search and switch our search to the surrounding field and brush areas,using cell phone technology and  the assistance of a police dog. The female was quickly located, unconscious, in a brush area in freezing rain and wind. It was essential that this victim was found quickly to prevent the medication she had taken, and hypothermia, from taking her life.”

“Without the FLIR the RG crew would have still been conducting a painstaking shoreline search and would not have been able to move ashore and locate the victim. The time saved by using the FLIR contributed greatly to the successful outcome of this incident.”

“In May 2010 we assisted the Coastguard in pin-pointing three survivors, and their dog, on the southwest shores of Bowen Island, after their vessel sank and they swam to shore. At this point in time the Kits Coast Guard base does not have a vessel mounted FLIR, and have to rely upon the hovercraft from Sea Island, so we assist them at every opportunity.”