REGINA - The Regina Police Service (RPS) has released their monthly report for Dec. 2024, which has shown a year-over-year decrease in several categories.
Homicides year-over-year are down nearly 50 per cent, mischief is down nearly 20 per cent, and break-and-enter is also down nearly 20 per cent.
RPS Police Chief Farooq Sheikh believes the reason those numbers have decreased is the efficient response time by the police service to catch suspects.
"When you look at homicides, we had fewer this year, and it has come down, which is great news, and I want to touch wood when I say this. But our homicide unit [are] do[ing] a phenomenal job, and I've [in a lot] worked a lot of places around the world, and I've never seen the solvability rate as good as it is here. So whenever there [is a] homicide, they all come in, they do everything they can, especially in that first 48 hours."
Sheikh noted the police cannot predict when there is going to be a murder, so the best thing they can do is try to react proactively.
Part of 小蓝视频 able to react faster comes from the growth in the police service, which has seen 46 new officers over the past four years.
Sheikh believes that the additional resources will give the RPS a chance to reduce crime and collaborate better with their partners.
Even with the decrease in numbers, reporters brought up how the public has a perception that the city is now more dangerous.
In response, Sheikh said, "I think it's important that when we come to these monthly meetings, that we share accurate data because sometimes people's perception of crime is not quite accurate. Sometimes it is. But when we look at the crimes that really make an impact, [you know, like,] homicide[s], attempt[ed] homicide, property crime, 小蓝视频 in these robberies, people need to know that they're coming down."
During his response, Sheikh also highlighted that the RPS is going to add more resources downtown in a couple of weeks.
When asked what those resources would be, Sheikh said "so, we're mixing both sworn cops, beat officers, with our Alternative Response Officers (ARO) that you’ve seen down there. So, we're going to have a mixture of both [and] so we're going to see more resilience downtown as of the 25th [of Feb]."
Sheikh mentioned the beat officers who normally patrolled downtown would work more closely with the AROs during the daytime.
He acknowledged hearing concerns from shoppers and businesses about downtown when he first arrived in the city.
Another key talking point was drug overdoses and seeing people use drugs on the street. According to the RPS' stats, the number of drug overdose deaths in 2024 was 110, which was 41 fewer deaths compared to 2023 and the lowest number of deaths per year since 2020.
Sheikh noted Regina is in a better spot compared to other Canadian cities in terms of dealing with drug addictions because of the new complex needs shelter and other resources that can help people dealing with mental health issues and or drugs.
As Sheikh was talking about the overdose deaths, a question came up regarding whether the police were allowed to arrest someone who was visibly taking drugs.
Sheikh said the police could, but the cases would not be so favourable in the court.
RPS Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies clarified a number of years ago, prosecutors had said for a simple possession of drugs, they would not recommend the police to lay charges, so that is something that the RPS has been doing. Davies added the prosecution believes simple possession of drugs is seen as an addiction and or mental health issue rather than a crime.
Even with the RPS making headway in a number of offences, there are still increases in certain categories, like sexual assaults, which saw an around 66 per cent increase from Dec. 2024 compared to Dec. 2023.
During the RPS Board of Police Commissioners meeting, Davies believed the reason for the spike was more people reporting sexual assault cases to the police.
Another key discussion during the meeting was the approved extension of the $50,000 reward for any information regarding the disappearance of Tamra Keepness until the end of the year.
Sheikh spoke about the over 20-year unsolved case and wanting to bring closure for the family. He also believes there is a chance people have some information about the disappearance, and keeping the reward will entice someone to come forward.
