Calls for police service in Q3 down slightly compared to last year: report
A report prepared for the Ottawa Police Services Board shows that requests for service in the third quarter of 2022 were down slightly compared to the previous year, but the report concludes that officers are facing “growing pressures.”
The report says the Ottawa Police Service saw a two per cent year-over-year drop in demands for service between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2022. There were 97,265 calls for service in Q3 2022, compared to 99,431 in Q3 2021.
It signals a return to pre-pandemic levels, as any remaining COVID-19 restrictions that were in place at the start of the year were lifted.
“After a decline in demand during months of pandemic-related restrictions, third-quarter results have returned to historical norms,” the report concludes.
Demands for service have been historically lower during times of strengthened pandemic protections, including in early 2022. The report says, despite the year-over-year decline in demands for service in the last quarter, demands were up about six per cent compared to the first quarter of this year.
Online reports are up significantly. Approximately 7,000 reports to police were submitted online, up 12 per cent from Q2 2022 and up 14 per cent from the five-year average, the report states. The rise is attributed to reports of thefts, such as shoplifting, drive-offs at gas stations, and bicycle thefts.
Priority calls, where there is an imminent danger of serious harm or death, or when a crime is in progress, were up quarter-over-quarter, but again down year-over-year, according to the report. OPS reported about 450 'Priority 1' calls in Q3 2022.
Police response time is below the target of arriving within 15 minutes 95 per cent of the time. OPS hit the 15-minute target 90 per cent of the time in Q3. The report says there were 35 calls where officers arrived on the scene beyond 15 minutes.
“A review of these calls identified that the plurality (12) were paramedic assistance calls, while others included a response to the Tiered Response Agreement (TRA) between Police, Fire, and Paramedic Services,” the report says.
The report also shows that the number of criminal code offences handled per police officer is up compared to last year. In the third quarter, the report states that there were eight Criminal Code of Canada offences handled per sworn member, up from around 6.5 in 2021, or a roughly 20 per cent increase, according to the report. This is partly attributed to a 19 per cent increase in the number of reported crimes, most notably shoplifting and vehicle theft reports.
“In concert with other reports submitted to the Board, the results in this report illustrate the growing pressures affecting service delivery, notably staffing,” the report says. “They also reflect the impacts of Ottawa’s growing population and the evolution of policing needs in Canada’s capital region.”
The Ottawa Police Services Board meets Monday for its first meeting of the new term of council. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will be present for the first time, as will Ottawa’s new police chief, Eric Stubbs, who will deliver a verbal report. Stubbs has already said his goal is to restore public faith in the police service after its actions during the “Freedom Convoy” protest in January and February.
But the first major item of concern for the new chief will be the 2023 budget, which will be tabled in the new year.
Sutcliffe has pledged to increase police funding and hire 25 new police officers per year. His fiscal plan, released during the election campaign, showed he expected the city to generate $40 million in revenue from new properties, some of which would be directed into police services.
The 2022 Ottawa police budget was $346.5 million, a 2 per cent increase from 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.