The stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic are starting to add up into crimes against the person, according to Moose Jaw’s chief of police. 

Chief Rick Bourassa presented the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners with the statistical extract of offenses committed for the month of October. 

The stats showed an increase of 12.4 per cent in crimes against the person compared to 2019.  

Bourassa explained which specific offenses contributed to the increase. 

“The largest increases were assaults with weapons and causing bodily harm,” he said.  

“We had a 70 per cent increase over last year, threatening a 22 per cent increase and domestic situations an almost 47 per cent increase over last year.” 

Adding to the total was one homicide in October.

Bourassa added that they expected the rise in crimes against the person to go up as mental health becomes an issue with the pandemic. 

Commissioner Mary Lee Booth said the statistics back up the board’s request for a larger budget to hire more police officers. 

“It seems to me it's not only COVID, but it's a shift in culture and moving, unfortunately, more towards serious crimes against the person. I just wanted to say, I think that again reinforces the argument that we need more members on the force,” she said. 

Booth also asked about the number of public health order tickets handed out. 

While it wasn’t calculated with the extract presented to the board, Supt. Devon Oleniuk said three tickets have been written for numbers exceeding the limit for indoor private gatherings. The police service is currently working in consultation with public health on a possible fourth ticket. Oleniuk said that charge could be laid this weekend. 

The fine for breaking the public health order is $1,400. 

In other statistics, total crimes against property are down six per cent from 2019, although breaking and entering business properties has spiked 75 per cent. 

Calls for service was also down slightly by 2.4 per cent compared to last year.