Wilfrid Derome

Wilfrid Derome (19 April 1877 – 24 November 1931) was a forensic scientist known as the founder of the first forensic science laboratory in North America, founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Later, he received a doctorate of medicine from Université Laval in Montreal in 1902, interning at Notre Dame Hospital.

During 1908–1909, Dr. Derome studied Legal Medicine at the University of Paris.

During his career, he acted as associate editor the American Journal of Police Science, contributing two articles during 1930. He was a member of the International Association for Identification and the Société de médecine légale de France.

He died from uremia in Montreal on 24 November 1931.

Work In 1910, Dr. Derome was appointed Professor of Legal Medicine and Toxicology at the University of Montreal and became head of the Laboratory of Notre Dame Hospital.

He founded, in June 1914, the first governmental forensic science laboratory in North America in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He acted as the Director of the lab until his death in 1931 at the age of 54.

In 1929 and 1932, the Derome laboratory was visited by J. Edgar Hoover, from the FBI, in order to plan the foundation of the FBI laboratory.

Awards 2001 – Quebec Government named the building that housed the Forensic science Laboratory and the headquarters of the Sûreté du Québec by his name: Building Wilfrid Derome 2011 - French Hall of Fame of Criminalistic (Association Québécoise de Criminalistique, Canada)

Books Derome, W., Précis de médecine légale, Cie d'imprimerie des Marchands, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1920 Derome, W., Lieu du crime, 1928 Derome, W., Expertises en armes à feu, Impr. alliés syndicats cathol.-nationaux, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1929