ESTEVAN — The Estevan board of police commissioners reflected on crime statistics from June and July at their latest meeting on Aug. 13.
In both months, the Estevan Police Service received fewer calls for service in comparison to the same month a year earlier. The year-to-date call volume dropped almost 15 per cent from 4,933 by the end of July 2023 to 4,215 in the first seven months of 2024.
As of the end of July, the number of calls for service was also about 10 per cent below the five-year average year-to-date (YTD) of 4,680.
The EPS had 732 calls for service in June, down from 1,122 for the same month in 2023. July saw 520 calls for service as opposed to 651 in July 2023.
Crimes against the person, on a monthly basis, were at 17 in June (down from 22 in June 2023) and at 15 for July (up from 10 in July 2023). In June, the EPS recorded 10 assaults, one assault causing bodily harm and six sexual crimes. In July, officers responded to 12 assaults and three assaults causing bodily harm.
As of the end of July, the year-to-date statistics showed a four per cent increase in crimes against the person with 101 such incidents in 2024 as opposed to 97 in 2023. Estevan is sitting 11.5 per cent above the five-year average of 90.6.
Crimes against property were up in June and July. In June 2024 there were 31 crimes against property committed in Estevan, versus 52 in June 2023. June 2022 saw 16 thefts under $5,000, 11 mischief/willful damage cases, and four residential break and enters. In July there were 42 crimes against property (38 in July 2023), with 26 thefts under $5,000, 10 mischief/willful damage cases, three residential and one business break and enters, and two thefts of motor vehicles.
As of the end of July, the EPS saw a 22 per cent increase in crimes against property on a YTD basis with 265 cases in 2024 versus 218 in 2023. The five-year average for the first seven months was 203.2, so Estevan is experiencing a 30.4 per cent increase in these kinds of crimes.
Three charges were laid under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in June, two for possession and one for trafficking, and none were laid in July. On a YTD basis, by the end of July, there is a 33 per cent decrease with a total of 18 cases so far in 2024 and 27 cases by the end of July 2023. There was a 25.6 per cent decline by the end of July in these types of violations in comparison to the five-year average, which is at 24.2.
There were nine Criminal Code traffic violations in June, same as last year, with five for impaired driving, one for impairment by drug, and three for dangerous drive and other. In July, Estevan saw 10 Criminal Code Traffic violations, with nine for impaired driving and one for dangerous drive and other.
On a year-to-date basis, in the first seven months of 2024, there were 72 cases reported in this section, and 75 over the same period of time in 2023, which is a four per cent decrease. In comparison to the five-year average (70.4), there is a 2.3 per cent increase in 2024.
The EPS also released its quarterly report, which will be available for the public to review on its website at estevanpolice.ca.
The report covers the traffic safety strategy, illicit drug strategy, intelligence-led crime response, enhanced training and professionalism, enhanced workplace wellness, reduction in calls for service for mental health emergencies, and budget accountability.
In the second quarter, EPS conducted five targeted traffic enforcement operations, with a total of 501 traffic enforcement charges laid. There were 26 low blood alcohol content/cannabis driver's licence suspensions. Two high-visibility check stops were conducted, with 803 vehicles being inspected.
There were 18 motor vehicle collisions reported to the EPS, three operational radar signs, and one black cat (covert) radar unit used.
The EPS had 10 people arrested in the second quarter under CDSA, with the estimated value of drugs and property seized sitting at $5,900. Seized were 80 grams of methamphetamine, one gram of fentanyl, 20 pills and 14 grams of other drugs.
Forty-one per cent of reported criminal activity resulted in charges in the second quarter. The EPS conducted 138 compliance/conditions checks on known offenders. Eight Crime Stoppers tips were received.
Officers also partook in 123 special events/community engagements. Thirty-seven hours were spent on foot patrol.
The EPS members attended 11 external training courses or conferences and four internal training courses, dedicating 1,468 hours to training and partaking in three combined service training events with partner agencies.
Twenty-one officers and staff also partook in fitness programs and 11 were a part of financial wellness programs.
There were 125 calls for service related to mental health emergencies. The Police and Crisis Team (PACT) was deployed 73 times, referring to external agencies 21 times. Members also did 31 client follow-ups and conducted 43 well-being checks.
Expenses were about one per cent below the budget forecast at 48.7 per cent use for the year versus the 49.6 forecasted.
