By Charles Lefebvre

Police Service releases annual report

Jun 21, 2019 | 5:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Police Service responded to fewer calls for service in 2018 compared to 2017, their annual report reveals.

However, Police Chief Andy McGrogan noted there are still many issues that are becoming prevalent in the community.

The police service’s annual report was released Thursday evening during the meeting of the Medicine Hat Police Commission. It showed in 2018, police responded to 31,544 calls for service, a six per cent decrease compared to 2017.

However, the report revealed the Medicine Hat Police Service saw a 45 per cent increased in the number of reported sexual assaults, an increase McGrogan called significant.

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

“At this stage of the game, we’re thinking people are more comfortable, I guess, about an issue that really has been taboo for generations,” he said. “I think the ‘MeToo’ movement and a few other things have helped people come forward on some of those issues.”

The report says police across Canada are dealing with similar spikes in reported sexual assaults.

He adds the police service has partnered with the Southeastern Alberta Sexual Assault Response Committee (SARC) to help support victims.

“It used to be, you come in, you report to the police, there was really no help around that,” he said. “Now we’ve got our victim navigation specialists, and our folks from SARC that are there to assist us in providing a delicate service to victims in our community.”

The report also notes addiction and mental health calls continue to be a factor in many crimes.

In 2018, a total of 3,346 police files had drugs and/or alcohol identified as a factor.

The Police and Crisis Team, a partnership between police and health clinicians, responded to 1,279 calls in 2018. Of those calls, 479 were for calls to arrest people under the Mental Health Act, with 61 calls for overdoses and attempted suicides, and eight suicides.

McGrogan says in the past several years, police have been working on partnerships with community organizations, including the Canadian Mental Health Association and Alberta Health Services, to help officers better respond to individuals suffering from these issues, and helping them find appropriate treatment.

“I think back to 10 years ago, where we had very few community partnerships, and now I think we’re more integrated with the community, and as a result, I think we’re getting people coming forward, and -I wouldn’t say comfortable- but there’s more ease in reporting now,” he said.

McGrogan says Medicine Hat generally remains a safe city.

“I think it’s a very safe community,” he said. “We have issues, we’re not immune to things like methamphetamine and all the other issues society is facing right now, but generally, this is an awesome community to live in. It’s safe, and we’re working at different aspects of that every day.”

The full report can be viewed here.