Calgary’s police chief paints positive picture in annual report

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Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld steered his service is popping a nook on some previous issues, whilst CPS offers with post-pandemic social unrest plaguing cities throughout North America.

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The chief was earlier than the council’s neighborhood growth committee on Wednesday to ship the service’s annual report for 2022.

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The report highlighted a service centered on addressing security issues within the internal metropolis, whereas additionally constructing encroachments with indigenous residents and different seen minorities.

Neufeld informed the committee that in contrast to different cities struggling to recruit, CPS has the other drawback.

“That is the primary yr that I can let you know that our subsequent a number of recruiting courses are already full,” the chief stated. “There’s a variety of occasions the place we’ll fill them on the eleventh hour, and we’re full for the following few (courses).”

Crime price down in Calgary, statistics present

The report steered CPS can be making enhancements in range hiring. In 2022, 47 p.c of candidates for CPS jobs recognized as a part of a marginalized or racialized neighborhood, and 25 p.c recognized as feminine.

Constructing belief with indigenous teams was an essential a part of the report. The service has developed a 16-module Indigenous e-learning collection which is obligatory for all workers. The courses underscore why Indigenous information and schooling are essential to CPS, whereas additionally pertaining to Indigenous historical past and up to date points affecting Indigenous folks in Canada.

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One other optimistic metric within the report was the town’s falling crime price, extra consistent with the five-year common after incidents spiked through the pandemic. Many key indicators have been down in 2022, together with robberies, automobile thefts and each business and residential burglaries.

Though murder numbers elevated in 2022, Neufeld informed the council they fell 30 p.c within the first quarter of this yr.

When requested how these numbers battle with claims made through the latest election about crime and dysfunction on the rise, Neufeld stated there may be nonetheless the notion of an unsafe atmosphere on account of some high-profile incidents.

“I believe it is easy to really feel the notion that there was a capturing each day, however we all know that is not the case,” he stated. “However despite the fact that the numbers are down about 30 p.c on each shootings year-to-date and homicides year-to-date, the truth is that after they do occur, these are impactful incidents and, I’ve stated earlier than, one is simply too many. a lot.”

Neufeld alludes to “very robust help” throughout the board

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Shovel. Terry Wong requested if frontline members of the service felt they have been getting help from council and Calgarians usually. The chief indicated they do, however this can be a change from the latest previous.

“Going again to the Skinny Blue Line concern and issues like that, there was undoubtedly a notion on behalf of the members that they weren’t typically supported by the town,” Neufeld stated. “And we’ve got come a great distance to have the ability to clarify that there’s very robust help from the residents. There’s very robust help from the council and there may be very robust help from the fee.”

Committee chairman gr. Kourtney Penner stated the report displays many conversations over the previous yr and a half.

“(It is) not simply what measures the police are taking, however how we talk these messages to the general public in order that we are able to see the great work that is occurring in gentle of another dangerous issues that we’ve got – that it does not will not be being addressed, and that there are actually modern options to attempt to deal with these issues,” she stated.

brthomas@postmedia.com
Twitter: @brodie_thomas