Trail’s RCMP detachment commander suspects the decriminalization of personal amounts of certain drugs is a big reason for increased calls in the second quarter of this year.
Statistics provided by Sgt. Mike Wicentowich show police were called out 1,699 times in April, May, and June of this year, compared to 1,448 times over the same period of 2022, a rise of 17 per cent.
Wicentowich said the increase is not always apparent as their work “tends to come in waves, so there are times we’re very busy and can’t keep up, and then it will slow down. It’s a little difficult to tell in the moment.”
Drug investigations declined from 23 to 10 due to decriminalization, but calls were up in other areas: mental health incidents rose from 74 to 89 and incidents involving drugs and alcohol were up from 78 to 117.
There was also a rise in wellness checks, from 88 to 131, which Wicentowich said are often linked to mental health or drug issues, and those experiencing side effects from the “highly potent” local drug supply. Even when the fire department or paramedics attend, police are usually still involved, he said.
Wicentowich said staffing remains a challenge, as the detachment only has 11 officers, where a full complement is 18. They are also facing four impending retirements, but he expects others who have been on leave to return to work soon.
Other highlights from the crime stats:
- Thefts from motor vehicle dropped from 32 to 17, as Wicentowich believes people are getting the message about locking their vehicles, not only to prevent theft, but to keep bears from trashing them. “I’ve heard from two people about wildlife in their vehicles causing significant damage,” he said.
- Crashes were up from 15 to 23, but there were no fatalities.
- Incidents involving suspicious occurrences, people, and vehicles increased from 197 to 237.
