The Moose Jaw Police Service has seen a 300-per-cent increase in assaults against officers this year compared to 2022, although one person has been responsible for nearly half of those incidents.
There were eight attacks on police from January to April of this year, compared to two incidents during the same period last year and five incidents year-to-date in 2021, the most recent crime statistics show.
This past April, there were four such incidents, compared to two last year and one in 2021.
The police service (MJPS) presented the data during the recent meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners.
Supt. Taylor Mickleborough explained that of those four incidents in April, one was inaccurately recorded, so there were three assaults on police last month — all due to one person.
The accused assaulted officers when they arrested him for a weapon offence, while he attacked them again when they put him in jail and then fought cops when they took him to court.
“So quite a prisoner to deal with … ,” Mickleborough added.
“So, there is not an epidemic occurring here (of assaults on police),” said Police Chief Rick Bourassa with a chuckle.
Board chairwoman Mary Lee Booth said she gasped when she first saw the data about assaults on police, especially considering 10 officers have died so far this year — some killed — while responding to incidents. This alarmed her, while she hoped there wasn’t increased hostility leading to these acts.
Another issue that concerned Booth was the number of mass shootings in the United States this year since there have been 192 mass shootings south of the border out of 208 days — almost one incident a day.
“Thank God we have (a) more civilized police service,” she said, pointing out Canadian police services are governed by the principles that English inspector Sir Robert Peel created in the early 1800s.
“Every time I hear things like this, I think with gratitude of the members that are serving because it is not an easy profession and they really are risking their lives. So it’s very humbling,” she continued, adding seeing the statistics about assaults on police gave her anxiety.
The MJPS lowered its flags when it learned of the recent killing of an officer in Ottawa, while it will raise those pennants after the funeral, said Bourassa. Moreover, he contacted the police chief of the Ontario Provincial Police to express condolences about the member’s death.
Bourassa added that Moose Jaw would send several officers to Ottawa to participate in the procession before the funeral.
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Thursday, June 8, at 7 p.m. in the Moose Jaw Public Library’s south meeting room. The public is welcome to attend.
