Moose Jaw police responded to fewer concerns about crimes against the person and against property this April versus last April, although officers have responded to more calls overall.
There were 36 crimes against the person reported last month, compared to 42 incidents in April 2020, according to the Moose Jaw Police Service’s (MJPS) April crime statistics. Year-to-date, officers have responded to 149 issues compared to 188 incidents a year ago, for an overall decline of 20.7 per cent.
The data showed that this April versus last April, there were:
- Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon, aggravated, and against police): 24 / 20
- Robbery: 0 / 2
- Threats: 2 / 10
- Domestic disputes: 10 / 10
Meanwhile, there were 51 crimes against property in April compared to 93 in April 2020, for a decline of 6.4 per cent. The data show:
- Break-ins to businesses, residences, other: 17 / 20
- Motor vehicle thefts: 1 / 10
- Theft over $5,000: 1 / 0
- Theft under $5,000: 21 / 41
- Arson: 0 / 1
- Property damage over $5,000: 11 / 21
“These are not trends; this is a snapshot in time,” Police Chief Rick Bourassa said during the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on May 11. “Trends happen over time.”
The number of impaired driving incidents rose to 10 in April from three compared to last year, an increase of 29.2 per cent, he pointed out. However, this does not mean there are more such incidents, only that the police and Combined Traffic Services of Saskatchewan members focused more heavily on this area.
“This is a very much police-driven statistic,” Bourassa added.
Year-to-date (YTD), there have been 31 impaired driving charges compared to 24 the year before. Meanwhile, there have been 222 incidents YTD of offenders failing to comply with their court orders compared to 218 during the same time in 2020.
The data also showed for other offences YTD 2021 vs. 2020:
- Vehicle collisions over $1,000: 69 / 83
- Provincial liquor infractions: 49 / 52
- Summary offence tickets: 680 / 417
- Cocaine: 1 / 3
- •lCannabis: 5 / 2
- Methamphetamine: 7 / 1
- Other CDSA drugs: 7 / 4
Overall, total calls for service are up 2.3 per cent over last year, to 4,618 issues from 4,514 incidents.
The total number of pandemic-related calls to which police have responded this year is 60, compared to 58 during the same time last year, the data showed.
Freedom rallies have been held here almost every weekend for several months now, with the same three to four people driving around, said Supt. Devon Oleniuk. However, there has been more momentum for these events in places such as Saskatoon and Regina. For example, Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada, spoke to hundreds during a recent rally in Regina.
The Moose Jaw Police Service’s plan for these events remains consistent in that it will continue to monitor these rallies, Oleniuk said. Patrol officers handle the rallies, acquire intelligence, and ensure they don’t infringe where they shouldn’t.
“Of note, we’re looking at this from a provincial level … so we’ll see whether see whether that changes any of our approaches,” he added.
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Tuesday, June 8.
