COCHRANE— Cochrane RCMP Cst. Nathan Moore's job draws on both science and art.
Moore is a Forensic Facial Imaging Artist, more commonly known as a Sketch Artist.
“It’s not as hard as you think, you’re just drawing the shapes that you see,” Moore said. “The more you do it the easier it gets.”
Moore has been a regular member with the RCMP for 14 years and previously served six years in dispatch.
He began working as a sketch artist in 2009 while posted in Raymond, Alta. There was a call out for anyone interested in becoming an artist asking them to submit three sketches to apply for the program.
His first attempt was rejected and Moore began working to develop his skills so he could apply again.
He bought a book to improve his drawing skills, and when a second call for entries took place a year later, he was accepted into the course.
During the drawing classes, Moore said, they learn the basics of drawing a face and how to interview a witness while working on a sketch.
When working with a witness to create a composite drawing, Moore has an information sheet he works through detailing where an incident occurred, a description of what happened, and then details on what a person looks like including an age description, height and sex. From there, he will go through an FBI mugshot book and flip through it to find features that best describe the person the witness is describing.
“It’s all based on recollection,” Moore said. “My picture should hopefully lead to a suspect from a photo lineup.”
Once a drawing is complete a witness is given 12 pictures and if they can pick a suspect from there it will hopefully help the investigation move forward.
While working on a sketch, Moore said, he is not only looking to create a portrait resembling the person described by the witness, he is also looking to learn as much information about the incident as possible. Any information he gains is then shared with other investigators.
Moore described it as a two-fold process— Getting a drawing and getting a statement.
It can be challenging having a portrait described, Moore said, explaining he works carefully to ensure he is not misleading the witness and affecting how they describe what they saw.
“When something happens and it burns that image in your mind. That’s what I hope for as far as my part of my job. When they close their eyes that’s what they see this guy's face or this girl's face and so they’ll hopefully be able to come up with a drawing,” Moore said. “Whereas if it didn’t really bother you, it fades away.”
Moore has found some great success with his drawings. One especially memorable event occurred in Red Deer involving a robbery where a woman selling a ring on Kijiji had another woman pull a gun on her and take the ring.
Moore completed a drawing based on the witness's description and went to visit some old friends in dispatch and showed them the drawing.
“Before I even left the building, they told me it looked like a bolo [be on the lookout for dispatch] they just got and sure enough it was,” Moore said. “They got a warrant for this woman and sure enough they found the gun and they found the ring.”
Moore attends drawing classes each year to help hone his craft. They are especially exciting because it offers a chance to connect with officers from other cities and provinces.
The classes focus on the basic drawing and investigation techniques employed when completing a sketch, Moore said, and build off of these fundamental skills.
His main focus now is on speed, so he can quickly create the most accurate sketches possible.
“It sounds hard but it’s basically drawing what you see,” Moore said.
Moore is the only RCMP member in Southern Alberta who completes sketches for identification.
It has been a neat experience because he has the opportunity to drive around to all parts of the province to aid in investigations. He estimates he has done around 250 drawings to date. At his busiest, he has completed 43 drawings in one year.
His work as a sketch artist has led to other opportunities including creating colouring book art for the RCMP.
His art has also been used for a RCMP Challenge Coins for a fundraiser, featuring sketches of the RCMP mascot completing different activities to support youth sports.
Moore is also the Youth Liaison officer for the Cochrane RCMP and will bring his drawings to schools to share with community youth.
His work in the community is education focussed and offers a great chance to connect with young people in the community.
He enjoys being a Youth Liaison officer because it allows for an opportunity to interact with the public in positive situations.
“You can go and you can talk to them at school and explain things to them,” Moore said.
He added during COVID-19 he was kept busy visiting schools and his work often includes presentations on Internet safety and drugs, while offering a chance to shine a light on police work and debunk any myths that may exist.
“I just go in and chat and make sure people are aware of what’s up,” Moore said with a grin. “The farther I get in my career the less I want to do office work and the more I want to be out in the community doing stuff.”
