Moose Jaw police responded to fewer calls for service in May, but that’s because officers interacted with fewer people as part of the organization’s pandemic response plan.
The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) received or generated 1,346 calls for service in May, compared to 1,527 calls during the same time last year, a difference of 181 incidents or a decrease of nine per cent, according to the latest statistics report. The report also shows almost every area of crime dipped in May — mostly due to the lockdown — but police believe the numbers could be different in June.
“I was surprised by this (but) pleased by what I saw … ,” said Police Chief Rick Bourassa. “We need to be careful (though) because there is the expectation that there are certain levels of violence occurring in homes. With everyone being isolated, we expect there will be an increase in that; we’re just not hearing about that yet.”
The Board of Police Commissioners reviewed the May statistical extract during their latest meeting.
Mitigation plan
When the federal government declared a pandemic in mid-March, the MJPS instituted a mitigation plan to limit the risk of exposure to its front-line patrol officers, explained Deputy Chief Rick Johns. This ensured there were adequate resources available and that officers remained healthy enough so the organization could provide uninterrupted services.
Police headquarters reallocated some officers to work remotely while it ordered other officers to patrol the streets to provide additional cover. The organization also implemented procedures related to safety and personal protective equipment.
“At the end of the deferred readiness program when COVID first hit, there were officers (who) did come into contact with COVID-positive people in the community,” said Johns. “I’m pleased to report that no officers were infected and there was a limited decrease in staff who had to self-isolate. Those who did were quickly replaced by other officers.”
While overall calls for service declined, calls per officers increased since there were fewer front-line members to respond to incidents, Johns added. However, he provided no numbers to indicate how many calls each street officer attended.
Drugs, drugs, drugs
In May, there were zero charges for cocaine, one for cannabis, zero for methamphetamines and two under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), compared to one, zero, four and one, respectively, in 2019.
Commissioner Mary Lee Booth noticed the decrease in drug charges — especially in meth — and wondered what the current status of meth was in Moose Jaw.
Since the MJPS redeployed officers during the pandemic — and even closed its front office counter — police had less contact with people they would typically encounter when such persons would come in to report drugs or tell them on the streets, said Johns. There was also a decrease in proactive work in the enforcement of, or investigations in, CDSA issues.
When COVID-19 was nearing its peak, officers also refrained from contacting certain people in certain situations, which meant the opportunity to encounter potential drug activity was also reduced, added Supt. Devon Oleniuk.
“It doesn’t mean the use has decreased, but it just means there’s more emerging, more important things going on,” said Booth.
Statistics
There were 35 incidents of crimes against the person in May, compared to 59 during the same time last year, for a decrease of 24 incidents or 3.5 per cent the report said.
There were 16 assaults compared to 36 the previous year. The types of assaults in 2020 versus 2019 by incident were:
- Sexual assaults: one / five
- Common assaults: 10 / 27
- Assault with weapon/cause bodily harm: four / three
- Aggravated assault: 0 / 0
- Assault police: one / one
- Domestic disputes: 12 / 15
There were 78 incidents of crimes against property in May, compared to 141 last May, a decrease of 63 incidents or 20.3 per cent. A breakdown of different property crimes by incidents were:
- Breaking and entering: 13 / 18
- Motor vehicle theft: four / 13
- Theft over $5,000: zero / two
- Theft under $5,000: 34 / 76
- Arson: three / one
- Mischief over $5,000: 24 / 31
There were also four incidents of impaired driving this May versus 10 last May; 25 incidents of people who failed to comply with court orders compared to 89 incidents; and six provincial liquor infractions versus 19 incidents.
The next Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting is in July.
