Meritorious Service Medal

• Awarded on: November 25, 2004
• Invested on: May 30, 2005

RCMP Corporal John Joseph Van Tassel, M.S.M., North Vancouver, B.C.
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)

In 1991, Cpl. John Van Tassel initiated the research on the different aspects of forensic knot analysis for the purpose of giving substantiation, as a shared police resource, in those cases where knot and ligature evidence had been identified. He has since published numerous research papers on this field of study, developed a training guide for forensic investigators, and created educational material which is distributed nationally and internationally to forensic experts. Cpl. Van Tassel’s expertise has been sought on numerous high-profile cases here and abroad, bringing worldwide recognition to the RCMP and to Canada.