The City of Pitt Meadows has approved the purchase of an electronic fingerprint station for its community policing office.
The machine means RCMP officers will soon be able to process both civilian and criminal fingerprints inside the newly renovated space, adjacent to the recreation centre.
“There is little doubt that providing these services locally will improve service delivery to local citizens,” Supt. Dave Fleugel said in a report to council.
Police across Canada are eliminating paper-based fingerprints to comply with new rules, which come into force July 1, requiring all fingerprints to be submitted via an electronic scan.
The electronic scanner costs approximately $40,000 and will be paid for with funds already in the city’s police reserve account.
RCMP said the scanner will be make it easier for people who need to submit criminal record checks for volunteer positions or employment.
Instead of traveling to the main detachment in Maple Ridge, officers in Pitt Meadows will be able to process the requests locally.
The machine has been ordered but RCMP said a backlog means it will be a few months before it arrives in Pitt Meadows.
Partly funded with a federal Community Infrastructure Improvement grant of $242,750, the $1.4-million renovations have transformed the formerly cramped Pitt Meadows space into a fully functioning office for RCMP.
The renovations expanded the 1,480-square-foot office by 2,100 sq. ft. by adding interview rooms and a space for Breathalyzer tests.
The renovations are almost complete and RCMP will move back in the next few weeks.