The number of assaults against police has increased by 400 per cent year over year, which the police chief says is due to offenders lashing out at officers during arrests.
There were four assaults against police from January to March this year, compared to zero assaults during the same time last year, the March crime statistics report shows. Overall, the total number of assaults during the first three months of 2023 is up 17.9 per cent, to 99 incidents from 84 incidents.
There have been alarming reports in the news lately with crime-related issues, including the murder of police in Canada and civil unrest — mass shootings — in the United States because people believe they are being treated unfairly, said Mary Lee Booth, chairwoman for the Board of Police Commissioners, during the recent police board meeting.
“It’s just kind of disturbing to turn on the news and hear one of those two stories,” she added.
The Moose Jaw Police Service sent five officers to the funeral of the two cops slain in Edmonton, while it sent two members to Laval, Quebec, for the funeral of an officer who was murdered there, Police Chief Rick Bourassa said.
“Yes, they are terrible things,” he continued. “We experience violence against our members here as well. … It’s consistent that some people just simply want to use force against members at times.”
“There’s real dangers in this business and I think that just really needs to be recognized,” said Booth, “(and) that, when you see a police officer, thank them for their service.”
Police attempt to treat people well during arrests but know they could face physical abuse because arrestees are stressed, at their worst, are struggling emotionally and sometimes lash out, Bourassa later told media. Members are trained to face such backlash — from hits and kicks to spitting — and use the least force required. They only need medical depending upon the situation, such as if offenders spat on them or they were cut during a scuffle.
“And very often in these situations, there are apologies afterward from the people to our members, but it would be best if there weren’t any of those situations,” he added.
Crimes against people
Total crimes against the person between January and March jumped by 19 per cent, to 138 incidents from 116 episodes last year, the report showed.
The data for 2023, 2022 and 2021 show:
- Homicide: 0 / 1 / 0
- Attempted murder: 0 / 0 / 1
- Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon/cause bodily harm, aggravated, against police): 99 / 84 / 57
- Robbery: 2 / 4 / 0
- Total: 138 / 116 / 88
Bourassa singled out common assaults and assaults with a weapon, which had increased by 11 incidents and three incidents year over year, or 20 per cent and 21.4 per cent, respectively.
“We had been flagging that throughout the pandemic. Of course, that’s not just here (since) that’s a trend across the province and across the country,” he said. “We continue to work on that and we will continue to investigate those … .”
The next police board meeting is Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at the public library.
