MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) has recorded 11 more sexual assaults this year than last year, with some of those total incidents related to offences against children.
The agency presented the July crime statistics during the Board of Police Commissioners’ Aug. 7 meeting, with the data showing that there were 44 sexual assaults between Jan. 1 and July 31 of this year compared to 33 incidents during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, all other assaults — common, with a weapon, aggravated and against police — have together declined 12.7 per cent year-over-year, with 213 incidents recorded year-to-date compared to 244 during the same time last year.
The year-over-year increase in sexual assaults concerns the police service, which is why it works with the Victim Advocate Case Review Program to ensure those investigations are of a high standard, said Supt. Taylor Mickleborough. While the agency never likes to see increases in this category, it does put plenty of effort into examining these issues.
“I have looked into the numbers, and we are fortunately able to close a lot of the files that we are investigating,” he continued. “We have a very high clearance rate either through charge or other means to close the file and bring a level of closure to the victims.”
Besides adults, the sexual assault category also includes offences against children, although the police service has “an extremely high clearance rate” of resolving those issues, the superintendent remarked. With nine of the 44 files, police have cleared eight and continue to investigate another.
Meanwhile, the police service encourages residents to report sexual assaults, considering research shows that “a good percentage of sexual offences” go unreported, Mickleborough continued. While those offence numbers look “alarming,” it’s still comforting knowing that people feel comfortable coming forward.
Crimes against people
The year-to-date data for crimes against people in 2024 versus 2023 show:
- Homicide: 0 / 0
- Attempted murder: 2 / 2
- Robbery: 9 / 7
- Total crimes: 331 / 342; a decline of 3.2 per cent
Crimes against property
The year-to-date data for crimes against property in 2024 versus 2023 show:
- Break-ins (business, residence, other): 127 / 170
- Theft of motor vehicles: 34 / 29
- Theft over $5,000: 9 / 24
- Theft under $5,000: 438 / 681
- Arson: 0 / 0
- Mischief under $5,000: 143 / 191
- Total crimes: 996 / 1,383; a decline of 28 per cent
Other violations
The year-to-date data for other violations in 2024 versus 2023 show:
- Impaired driving: 54 / 63
- Failing to comply with court orders: 518 / 214; an increase of 142.1 per cent
- Threats: 9 / 33
- Domestic dispute: 35 / 37
- Provincial liquor infractions: 83 / 87
- Vehicle collisions over $1,000: 162 / 117; an increase of 38.5 per cent
- Automated speed enforcement tickets: 15,197 / 17,064
- Drugs (cocaine, marijuana, meth, other): 6 / 4
Also, year-to-date, police have received 11,913 calls for service compared to 11,464 during the same period last year, an increase of 3.9 per cent.
“It’s encouraging to see a decline in any crime statistics … . It means that we’re out in the community and we’re visible and we’re doing our job, and that the people who would potentially commit those crimes are aware they’re going to be held accountable,” said Mickleborough.
The MJPS will continue holding its foot patrols and encouraging residents to report crimes while it will work to hold criminals accountable and either deter their actions or take them off the streets, which should lead to a decrease in numbers, he continued.
As for an increase in non-compliance with court orders, the superintendent added that those numbers reflect proactive police enforcement in keeping people accountable.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include more data.
