Calls for service continue to climb while criminal offences and charges are down in North Bay.
City Police Chief Shawn Devine says that’s not exclusive to North Bay. He says that’s across the province and the country – and it gives some politicians a platform to ask why they need so many police on the pay role. Devine says he feels while crime is down, the police have an expanded role in dealing with numerous mental health calls on a daily basis.
He says those don’t count towards the crime rates. In April, the North Bay Police Service responded to 2525 calls for service, 107 more calls compared to the same time last year.
Devine says this shows they are extremely active and busy even if the charges don’t reflect that.
Throughout the month of April there were 35 assaults, nine sexual offences and 12 drug charges. 106 of the calls for service were in relation to motor vehicle accidents, with 12 of those accidents involving injuries while 14 people were injured.
