Alyson Yaraskovitch Awarded Outstanding Analyst of the Year

In a world increasingly driven by data, Alyson Yaraskovitch is proving that behind every spreadsheet and dashboard is a powerful story waiting to be told—one that can help solve crimes and shape the future of policing in Ottawa.

A crime analyst for over a decade, Yaraskovitch was named the 2024 Ontario Crime Analyst Network (OCAN) Outstanding Analyst of the Year. While she’s quick to deflect the spotlight, those who work with her know the recognition is well deserved—not just for her individual achievements, but for the innovative, high-impact work being done by the Crime Intelligence Analyst Unit at the Ottawa Police Service (OPS).

“I didn’t think I did anything beyond what I normally do in my day-to-day life,” she said modestly. “It’s just my job.”

But in 2024, “just her job” included testifying in multiple homicide trials, pioneering advanced data automation tools, and even directing investigators to critical physical evidence in a murder case—evidence found just in time, before it melted into the spring thaw.

Yaraskovitch used GPS data from a suspect’s phone to identify a precise location where evidence might have been dumped. Her hunch was correct—bloody clothes were found on frozen ice, crucial to securing a conviction. “If we hadn’t gotten to it in time, it would have melted away,” she recalled. “That was something I was really proud of.”

Her role and her unit’s impact go far beyond courtroom moments. OPS’s Crime Intelligence Analyst Unit is made up of three core streams: divisional crime analysts who monitor geographic trends and support patrol deployment; CID (Criminal Investigations Directorate) analysts who assist major investigations like homicides and gang activity; and research analysts who study evolving crime patterns and strategic issues, including emerging threats like AI-enabled fraud.

“We’re kind of the data detectives,” she explained. “Investigators come to us and say, ‘Here’s all this information and here’s what we need to find.’ They don’t always know exactly what they need and how to go about it. That’s where our analytical skills come in—to use what we have in our toolbox; analyse the raw data they hand over and pull out what’s relevant and [actionable].”

“It’s always different, that's what makes it fun.”

The Crime Intelligence Unit is a multidisciplinary environment that thrives on curiosity, technical expertise, and creative problem-solving. Yaraskovitch, who has a background in spatial analysis and a passion for innovation, is now the team lead of the Crime Intelligence Analysis Unit.

Her award-winning year also included developing internal training programs. “Production Order (CDR) Analysis is one of the key techniques that we regularly train new analysts on once they are on the job,” explained Superintendent Jamie Dunlop in the nomination letter to OCAN.

“In 2024, Alyson initiated a new internal training workshop for conducting CDR analysis for the unit. Given the complexity of the analysis (both technical and theoretical), she divided the workshop into three separate sessions to ensure comprehension for the analysts. Each session includes a full-day hands-on demo and a manual that analysts can refer to.”

In April 2024, the Atlantic Centre for Creativity featured Yaraskovitch in a podcast episode where she discussed her journey as a Crime Intelligence Analyst and the ongoing role creativity plays in her professional development.

Still, Yaraskovitch insists her story is about more than just one person. “I like to talk about the unit,” she said. “It’s never just one of us—it’s the strength of the team, the range of skills, the diversity and the way we support each other that makes our work possible.”