The Investigation
Why did it take 2 years for police to connect Bernardo with his purchase of cement?
Bernardo purchased the cement in cash, resulting in no customer records. Investigators failed to look through all resources, including return and exchange records.
These two police departments worked seamlessly together, avoiding jurisdictional conflicts in the Bernardo investigation.
The Niagara Regional Police Service and the Halton Regional Police Force
Investigators searched this police database for reports of prowling, sexual assault, and suspicious vehicles, but crucial stalking reports were missing.
The ORACLE System
Why was the media’s independent investigation problematic to the investigation?
Journalist followed officers, interviewed suspects and leaked details of the case which caused some disruptions to police agencies.
Why did investigators initially struggle to link Kristen French’s abduction to Paul Bernardo?
Witness misidentifications and a focus on a Camaro instead of Bernardo’s Nissan.
Why was The Green Ribbon Task Force created?
Their priority was to investigate the murders of Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French as their murders are connected over two jurisdictions.
What does the issue with the Camaro investigation demonstrate about the recollection of witnesses?
It demonstrates the susceptibility of a witnesses memory when exposed to external forces as they are trying to recall what they saw.
What was the approach proposed by The Green Ribbon Task Force for serial predator investigations, emphasizing the importance of tapping into every available technique, resource, and source of information?
A systemic case management approach
What key suspect-related information was not provided to the Green Ribbon Task Force due to negligence?
Bernardo’s past stalking reports that were not properly recorded by officers.
What were the three shared failures between the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission Report and the GRTF Report?
- Poor Communication and Information Sharing
- Lack of Preparedness and Misuse of Resources
- Systemic Culture and Lack of Accountability
Why did the I.L. report never make it to GRTF members? How can this issue be improved?
Despite being reported to police, this Brock University student’s tip about Paul Bernardo being a potential suspect was lost in the overwhelming number of leads.
Sophisticated case management information systems would have processed cases and prioritized leads in an adequate amount of time.
Why was media management a challenge for the Green Ribbon Task Force?
The Niagara police had a restrictive media sharing policy while Halton had a more open media policy, leading to conflicts.