Responding to issues of substance abuse is straining police resources and most of Thunder Bay’s crime happens outside of the city’s downtown cores.
City police chief Bob Herman was before council Tuesday night with a report on police issues in Thunder Bay. Herman said he wanted to address some of the concerns from the public.
With 2608 intoxicated people arrested last year in Thunder Bay, compared to 279 in Sudbury, Herman said the city has a significant substance abuse problem. Because the city only has seven detox beds, Herman said those people are being locked-up when they shouldn’t be.
"I don’t believe people in that condition should be locked up," Herman said. "We need to lobby our government and say ‘this is a health issue, it should be treated as a health issue and it needs to be properly funded."
Herman also reported that 89 per cent of crime is happening outside of the city’s downtown areas. His statistics are based on reportable calls, calls that were confirmed to have been reporting a crime or offence. Herman said 80 per cent of violent crime, which are usually rooted in substance abuse issues, happen outside of the cores while 91 per cent of Thunder Bay’s property crimes do as well.
Herman said another major issue for the city’s force is dealing with non-police matters. He said 25 per cent of calls from the public are instances such as a neighbour’s barking dog that could be dealt with without police mediation.
"We have to wean the public off of (police) mediating non-police issues," Herman said.
After comments made to council by former councillor Bill Scollie about reducing the force’s special units earlier this year, Herman said the units are necessary to tackle complex or time-consuming crimes. Economic crimes such as fraud require months or years and expertise to solve said Herman. He said units such as the regional integrated gang unit track gang activity that uniformed officers wouldn’t be able to he added. Taking away special units would
Remove the training, resources and time necessary to solve crimes in the city said Herman.
"Then we would just become a reactive force," Herman said. " We need those special liaisons."
Also Tuesday, before a review of the 2010 operating budget, the city heard from community groups and members of the public on the budget. The Children’s Aid Society requested $65,000 to continue an outreach program they have for youth 16-24. The one-on-one program helps young adults off the street who otherwise wouldn’t approach institutions such as CAS to get help said Susan Jones from CAS.
HAGI transit has made a request for $20,000 to extend their hours on the road. HAGI board member Ron Ross said there is such demand on the bus service that clients have to call a week ahead to get a ride. HAGI Transit has 6,000 riders with 45 new people every month.
Trees Thunder Bay made a request to council for the city to fund the organization for a tree stewardship coordinator. Council resumes budget talks next Tuesday.
