Crime is generally decreasing in Rivers
- Details
- Published on Monday, February 2, 2015
By Bruce Klassen
Chief of Police
On behalf of the members of Rivers Police Service, it gives me great pleasure to share our 2014 annual report with you. The members of Rivers Police Service are dedicated to provide the very best service possible to the citizens they serve. They are able to do this through the support provided by our governing bodies — our police board, the mayor and council.
As a police service we continue to explore opportunities that allow us to maintain and improve on the level of service provided to the community. We do this through continually assessing the services provided. In 2014 we went through a strategic planning process developing a policing plan. This was done with participation from the public, police board, council and members of the police service.
I will be completing my first year as chief; I would like to thank the citizens of Rivers for offering me the opportunity to be their chief. Over the past year several programs have been deployed including RoadWatch, victim services, justice committee, Use your Head campaign, town hall meeting and development of a three-year policing plan.
I encourage all who read this report to participate in the future of your policing needs by offering constructive suggestions on how your police service can continue to provide the level of service the community should expect.
Statistics over the past five years show a general decline in most crimes; numbers listed after each category will begin with the year 2014 and end with the year 2010. I am very pleased there have been no homicides in Rivers in the last five years. One sexual offence was reported this year, none last year, four in 2012 and two each in 2011 and 2010. Only one abduction/forcible confinement has been reported in the last five years, and that was in 2010. Assault: six, eight, 15, nine, eight. Three robberies were reported this year, none in the four years proceeding. Other violent crimes such as extortion, uttering threats, etc. are one, zero, two, five and one. Our grand total for violent crimes is 13, below the five-year average of 14.
Under property crimes, no break and enters were reported this year; previous years were eight, five, 12 and 11. In 2010 five vehicles were stolen and then one each in the next three years; we are very pleased there were no reported thefts of motor vehicles in 2014. One theft over $5,000 was reported last year, the same was also reported in 2012; thefts under $5,000 are a different story. This year 23 reports were filed, compared to six, 19, 12 and 17. Possession of stolen goods has one charge in five years, and that occurred in 2013. One arson was reported this year, none in 2013, one in 2012, three and one. Property damage skyrocketed this year to 25; other years are four, 18, 14 and 19. The five-year average of property crime cases is 46; last year’s total was 50.
Other crimes include prostitution, of which one complaint was filed in 2012 and 2010. There have been no offensive weapons cases in the last five years and no escape/resist/obstruct files. Fraud remains consistent with three, three, one, two and four. Miscellaneous crimes are 17, 12, 26, 20 and 24. This category’s five-year average is 22.6; the 2014 total of other crimes is 20. Of all crimes reported to Rivers Police Service in the last five years, case files number 83, 43, 93, 80 and 94; the five-year average is 78.6, lower than this year’s total of 83.
In traffic statistics three federal charges were laid last year, one each in impaired driving, failure to remain and prohibited driving. Total federal charges in the last five years are three, zero, one, three and five; last year’s total of three is above the average of 2.4.
Provincial Traffic Act charges are 88, 51, 30, 46 and 88. There were no off-road vehicle cases this year, better than eight, two, seven and zero. Total provincial charges are 88, 59, 32, 53 and 88; last year’s total is well-above the average of 64.
Only reportable accidents have been listed in the accident category where no fatalities have been recorded in the last five years. General accidents number nine, three, zero, zero and two. Damage over $1,000 was a category which was eliminated in early 2012 so numbers for it have been zero, zero, three, 20 and 22. The five-year accident average is 11.8; last year’s total was nine. Total traffic statistics for the last five years are 100, 62, 36, 76 and 117; last year’s number is well above the average of 78.2.
Cases under the Liquor Control Act are below average with a total of 11 vs. 17. Possessing liquor in an unauthorized manner saw two, one, one, none and none. Possession by a minor was three, two, zero, four and eight. Supplying liquor to minors is zero, one, zero, two, five. The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act was enforced six times in 2014 and 2013, once in 2012, five times in 2011 and six times in 2010. Total liquor charges for the last five years are 11, 10, two, 11 and 19.
Rivers Police Service enforces four bylaws, all of which remain average. The nuisance bylaw was two, zero, one, three and zero; animal control, 31, 39, 36, 36, 44; burning bylaw had one charge in 2011 only; traffic bylaw, five, zero, one, zero, two. Total bylaw numbers are 38, 39, 38, 40, 46; last year’s number is below the 40.2 average.
In our assistance file we helped the public 32 times, 29, 44, 58 and 54. We assisted other agencies 52 times, 66, 64, 90 and 57. We’ve done 71, 103, 91, 112 and 126 criminal records checks. Finger prints (pardons) have been two, seven, five, two and five. Total assistance file statistics are 157, 205, 204, 262 and 242; apparently we’re not as “helpful” because 157 is well below the 214 average.
The miscellaneous category is rather long with 15 subtitles: Mental Health Act, 911 calls, community relations, missing persons (ranging from eight to 18, all located), alarms, other incidents such as unfounded complaints, Child and Family Services, lost property, insecure premises, found property, complaints against police (fortunately none in the last five years), sudden deaths, trespassing, sex offender registrations (three each year except 2011 which was only two) and firearms turned in. Miscellaneous totals are 154, 167, 147, 118 and 126, making an average of 142.4 so this year’s activity was higher than normal.
Members responded to a total of 474 calls for service in 2014 and they generated 338 files. If you want the numbers for each year in the miscellaneous category, please contact me at 204-328-7430.
Rivers Police Board is chaired by Debbie Phythian and includes members Bryan Smith and Glenna Beachamp. Staff are myself, Chief Bruce Klassen, Sgt. Bob Futrell and animal control officer Dallas Murray, Const. Darryl Hodkin remains on leave; part-time constables are Darwin Drader, Jennifer Griffin, Kristen Guspadarchuck; auxiliary cadets (volunteers) are Dallas Scott, Max Tschushba, Slav Trolkym, Darcy Ruskin, Brett Seib and Delton Kellusky; Warren Smallwood is our padre, the victim services co-ordinator and chairman of Riverdale Justice committee.
