The Moose Jaw Police Service responded to almost six-per-cent more calls for service last year than in 2020, including more property crimes and more drug-related incidents.
There were 16,048 calls for service in 2021, compared to 15,211 the year before, an increase of 5.5 per cent, according to the December statistics report presented during the recent Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
Crimes against people
There were 534 incidents of crimes against people last year compared to 549 the year before, a decline of 2.7 per cent.
The data for 2021 versus 2020 showed:
• Homicide: 0 / 1
• Attempted murder: 2 / 3
• Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon, aggravated, against police): 307 / 273
• Robbery: 5 / 9
• Uttering threats: 57 / 93
• Domestic disputes: 163 / 170
Crimes against property
There were 1,491 offences of crimes against property last year compared to 1,279 the year before, an increase of 16.6 per cent, the report said.
The data for 2021 versus 2020 showed:
• Business break-ins: 41 / 61
• Residential break-ins: 165 / 115
• Other break-ins: 103 / 108
• Theft of vehicles: 63 / 71
• Theft over $5,000: 17 / 11
• Theft under $5,000: 701 / 560
• Arson: 34 / 16
• Mischief under $5,000: 367 / 337
Other Criminal Code violations
There were 126 episodes of impaired driving last year versus 90 the year before, an increase of 40 per cent, the report said. Meanwhile, 701 people failed to comply with court orders versus 810 the year before.
Other offences
Other offences to which police responded last year versus 2020 included:
- Pandemic responses: 86 / 123
- Motor vehicle accidents over $1,000: 243 / 208
- Liquor infractions: 164 / 135
- Summary offence tickets: 1,750 / 1,375
- Drugs:
- Cocaine: 7 / 5
- Marijuana: 12 / 5
- Methamphetamine: 31 / 10
- Other CDSA drugs: 19 / 19
Board concerns
Commissioner Mayor Clive Tolley expressed concern about the number of drug offences to which police responded in 2021, especially crystal meth and other CDSA drugs. He wondered if police laid charges for those offences and the differences between possessing and trafficking substances.
The other problem he struggled with was how there appeared to be low officer engagement to halt the flow of drugs at the supplier level. He understood that it was not easy work for the police but still thought more could be done.
“I share your concerns (about the drug numbers). It’s problematic,” said Bourassa.
Those figures indicate the incidents to which police responded, while officers will either lay no charges or issue multiple charges, he explained. Meanwhile, there is a difference between possession and trafficking drugs. If someone possesses a large quantity, that’s a sign the person plans to traffic the substance.
“What we’re hearing back from the community at large and our members is methamphetamine is pretty prevalent in our community,” Bourassa continued. “We know that it’s relatively inexpensive in comparison to some of the other illicit drugs that are there.”
It is police enforcement that drives many of these statistics, so officers may come across drugs while conducting other business, the police chief said. This doesn’t mean there are more drugs, only that police came across supplies while working.
The police service worked with the now-defunct Crystal Meth Strategy Committee on an educational campaign about this drug, Bourassa added. The initiative — which focused on people who use meth and families affected by loved ones’ use — was relatively successful.
The next Board of Police Commissioners is Thursday, March 10.
