The latest batch of policing statistics came before town council with speeding and traffic offenses topping the list of questions.
The third quarter report from the Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment appeared on the most recent town council agenda with the statistics showing that calls for service were 924 in July, 852 in August and 868 in September. The total for the year thus far is 8,872.
Regarding traffic offenses, there have been 4,954 through the end of September with 364 report in July, 360 in August and 313 in September. Those numbers declined from earlier in the year as the previous low was 488 in June with the high numbers being 774 in January and 721 in February.
Councillor Peter Courtney said council members get constant complaints about speeding. He noted the “dwindling” amount of traffic complaints.
“I’m seeing a trend downwards but the complaints keep coming in,” said Courtney.
Courtney said based on feedback from residents, he was surprised the traffic offenses weren’t higher.
“It just seems speeding is happening everywhere,” he said.
Staff Sgt. Bryan Hayes stated they are “relatively consistent” with 2023 statistics and there are “peaks and valleys” throughout the year.
“The reason for that is our staffing numbers at the start of the year tend to be our heaviest,” said Hayes. “For the most part, people don’t want to book vacation time in January and February. They want to use time off closer to the summer months. It is simply based on personnel availability. It’s not that we’re not out in certain problematic areas conducting traffic enforcement. We are. It’s just that we don’t have that dedicated resource that we have available to us in January, February and March.”
Hayes added he receives calls about speeding as well.
“I encourage those calls to me because it does allow me to identify those areas and direct those resources there,” he said. “The reality is it’s a problem that’s never going to be completely solved. It’s a problem we’re always going to try and manage.”
Hayes predicted traffic numbers would increase in the fall and winter when officers return from vacation.
Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb also pointed out the “ebb and flow” of the numbers. He said when comparing the numbers from 2023, police wrote 3,080 tickets by this point last year while 4,954 tickets have been written so far this year.
“This is probably one of the top three issues residents in Amherstburg contact us about,” said Gibb. “These numbers show they’re writing tickets and we’re not learning from those tickets.”
There were no attempted murders or robberies over the last three months – and none reported this year – but the total number of frauds for the first nine months of 2024 were 35 with five in each of July and August and seven in September.
Theft over $5,000 amount to 12 for the year with the only one in the last three months being in September. Theft under $5,000 charges see 72 for the year with nine each in July and August and three in September.
There have been nine possession of stolen goods charges in the first nine months with four in September. There was one in July and another in August.
Fraud charges through September amounted to 86 with 15 in July, nine in August and ten in September. There have been 52 mischiefs this year thus far with five each in July and September and eight in August.
Assault charges total 91 through the end of September with 13 in August, 12 in September and nine in July.
Police report two drug-related charges for the year, with one in July. No firearms charges have been reported this year and seven arson/fire calls being investigated, one in July, one in August and three in September.
A total of 23 cases of impaired driving have been reported with seven each in July and September and two in August.
Councillor Diane Pouget reiterated concerns she has heard about golf carts on roadways. She noted Hayes “has taken a very active role” on the issue and requested an update, noting Hayes has been working with manager of licensing and enforcement Bill Tetler on the matter.
Hayes said he and Tetler “are both on the same page” but it is a policing issue. He said they responded for service in neighbourhoods but the carts were gone by the time officers got there.
Police have taken a more of a proactive approach, Hayes added, such as on weekends where an officer is assigned to go into neighbourhoods and be visible. If someone is observed driving a cart on a roadway, officers have the discretion to issue a ticket or warnings.
“We’re certainly trying to take a more of a proactive approach in being in those neighbourhoods,” said Hayes.
Pouget asked about signage in those lakefront neighbourhoods such as the Lakewood Beach area. She said signage was put up in the Texas Road area and once those went up, complaints went down.
“If the town is prepared to put some signage up, I do think that would be a visible reminder to everyone as they’re driving down that road,” Hayes told Amherstburg town council.
Hayes added he preferred to lean towards public education before going to enforcement, with a sign possibly helping to rectify the problem.
Policing statistics come before town council
By Ron Giofu
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