The Moose Jaw Police Service has seen a nearly 100-per-cent increase in Criminal Code-related threats this year over 2021 and has handled each incident individually.
The police service presented the July statistics during the Aug. 18 Board of Police Commissioners meeting. The data showed the number of threats year-to-date under section 810 of the Code is at 54 incidents compared to 28 incidents during the same period last year, an increase of 92.9 per cent.
The organization refers to threats under section 810 as a peace bond, where there is usually an issue between two people and they need to be separated, explained Deputy Police Chief Rick Johns. The parties will appear before a judge and swear they will not contact or have contact with each other.
“The person can then be apprehended under conditions of non-contact (if contact happens). Providing that they don’t breach those conditions, it doesn’t result in a criminal charge,” he continued. “It (the peace bond) gives police the authority to keep people away from each other … .”
When asked if section 810 includes threats against peace officers, Johns replied that threats against law enforcement officials “comes with the territory.”
Commissioner Mary Lee Booth wondered what effect threats over social media had, considering they affect the community’s social fabric.
“I’m thinking there’s lots of stupid things (said) on social media — threats and such,” she added.
Front-line officers receive regular reports about online threats and bullying, which they investigate on a case-by-case basis, said Johns. If the evidence is strong enough, officers will proceed with an investigation and potentially lay charges — depending upon what was said.
Crimes against the person
Year-to-date data for crimes against people between 2022 and 2021 show:
- Homicide: 1 / 0
- Attempted murder: 1 / 2
- Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon, aggravated, against police): 198 / 162
- Robbery: 6 / 1
- Threats section 810: 54 / 28
- Domestic dispute: 56 / 110
- Total: 316 / 303
Crimes against property
Year-to-date data for crimes against property between 2022 and 2021 show:
- Break-ins (business, residence, other): 169 / 167
- Theft of vehicles: 38 / 36
- Theft over $5,000: 12 / 10
- Theft under $5,000: 474 / 373
- Arson: 6 / 8
- Mischief under $5,000: 216 / 200
- Total: 915 / 794
Other crimes
Year-to-date data for other crimes between 2022 and 2021 show:
- Impaired driving: 66 / 72
- Failing to comply with court orders: 549 / 452
- Vehicle accidents over $1,000: 160 / 130
- Provincial liquor infractions: 92 / 110
- Summary offence tickets: 845 / 1,158
- Drugs (cocaine, marijuana, meth, other CDSA drugs): 22 / 41
Meanwhile, the police service has responded to 10,780 calls for service so far this year, compared to 8,976 during the same period last year. This is an increase of 20.1 per cent.
Commissioner Dawn Luhning inquired about the Royal Bank of Canada branch at the mall and whether the boarded-up window was due to a break-in.
Johns replied that a motorist drove into the building a couple of days ago and police responded to the incident.
The next Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting is Thursday, Sept. 15.
