Foot and bike patrols, anti-trespassing initiatives, upgrading technology and enhancing communications are some strategic priorities the Moose Jaw Police Service plans to pursue this year.
The police service (MJPS) presented an update on its community safety strategy during the recent Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting, which looked at crime statistics and ways the organization plans to address those problems and enhance community safety.
Foot/bike patrols
The MJPS began its downtown foot and bike patrols last May and, by Dec. 31, had conducted 194 such inspections, while in January, it conducted 48 patrols, Acting Supt. Taylor Elder said.
“We identified some things we were lacking when tracking those occurrences, so (last) year, we really stepped up our game and really tried to focus on a better approach and better way to track those numbers and (have) more community engagement,” he continued.
Engaging in these patrols allows officers to form relationships with business owners and residents and enhances their ability to acquire information, Elder stated.
The police service conducted many patrols in January because the weather was nice, which allowed members to be out regularly, he said. However, what the organization wants to do is have officers pop into shops more often and speak with owners so they know the police are around.
“A lot of people are hesitant to call police, so if we pop in and say, ‘Hey, is anything going on?,’ maybe it comes up in conversation that crucial piece of information we wouldn’t have got (otherwise) … ,” Elder added.
Trespassing
Commissioner Doug Blanc appreciated the downtown foot patrols but hoped the police service could also provide data about its activities elsewhere — including at Town ‘n’ Country Mall; Bourassa said they could.
Sgt. Ryan Lawrence, who is leading the MJPS’s anti-trespassing initiative, said he has been working with the mall’s general manager to combat unwanted visitors — mainly on the backside of the building. He noted that once the venue posts signage with hours of operations, that should help discourage people from being there.
“(It’s) not only a mall problem, but that whole back row of residents there are tired of what’s going on,” he said.
Lawrence added that the mall’s hours prohibit anyone from being on site after 11 p.m., but he encouraged them to make it 9 p.m.
Board chairwoman Crystal Froese said she has also heard complaints about vehicles creating unwanted noise there after hours. She pointed out that that entire area is private property, which is something people may not realize.
The data shows police received 116 calls for trespassing in 2021, 124 calls in 2022 and 163 calls last year, which led to officers issuing 54, 108 and 146 tickets in those years.
Service automation
The MJPS is continuing to modernize its information technology (IT) services, whether that’s making it easier for people to report crimes online or enabling members to upload information from their vehicles and keeping them visible in the community, said Deputy Chief Rick Johns.
This year’s projects include:
- E-collision: When members attend a collision, they can input the data into their laptop and send it immediately to SGI
- E-ticketing: During traffic stops, officers can scan a driver’s licence and print a ticket on-site, allowing motorists to leave quickly and reduce the time members spend at stops
- Installing a complete computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) program, which allows officers to report information in their car; this will be a “game-changer” since they can remain on the streets longer
SGI will soon roll out the e-collision program, while people involved in an incident can receive a report by either email or text, added Johns. Meanwhile, the MJPS’s communications centre will regularly monitor the website for residents’ crime submissions and assign an officer to follow up.
“That’s excellent. It’s really impressive to see us moving forward with the modernization part, but also efficiency … ,” said Froese. “The more we move towards this, the more our officers get to spend on the street, which is pretty important.”
Communications
The police service’s 2019 public survey showed most residents were happy with the agency’s efforts but thought it could better address its communications, said Bourassa. This was true because certain members were performing public relations as a secondary duty; also, the agency had a weak online presence.
So, the MJPS hired a public information and strategic communication manager last September to enhance this area and help the organization address its digital activities, the chief added.
Jay-D Haughton explained that part of his job entails monitoring social media and watching for crime-based videos and photos — either in progress or already past — that residents post. Moreover, he plans to remind residents that they should report criminal activities immediately instead of waiting two weeks — which happens often.
Furthermore, his goal is to find creative ways to post messages daily reminding people to call 911 or Crime Stoppers or use the MJPS’s online reporting feature if they see crime. He also plans to develop hashtags people can use to communicate with the agency.
“It’s a full-time job to go through social media and read the comments … . (But) that is something that I want to do moving forward, is seeing what the community has to say in terms of this type of message,” Haughton said.
He added that he must be careful when engaging with people because some users are openly hostile and verbally attack others.
The next police board meeting is Wednesday, March 13.
