Saskatoon Police Service asking for $4.1M bump in 2025 budget

The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) is asking the city for $4.1 million more in next year's budget, citing increased need for services and necessary infrastructural upgrades.

Police Chief Cameron McBride presented reports on SPS's operating and capital budgets to city council on Thursday.

SPS is looking for a $1,637,400 bump in the 2025 operating budget along with $2,523,000 more for capital projects.

McBride told the council that like in other jurisdictions, Saskatoon are dealing with more violence and weapons in the community.

"More individuals in our community are experiencing complex needs, including homelessness, declining mental health and substance use, and this is causing resource pressures for us," he said.

"As of the end of July, total calls for service have increased four and a half per cent from 2023."

If the trend continues, McBride said 2024 will end with approximately 160,000 calls for service.

Social disorder calls increase by 72 per cent: chief

McBride pointed to a large increase in social disorder calls. He said these calls include suspicious persons, intoxication and disturbances, and mostly are not criminal in nature.

"These types of calls have increased by 72 per cent since 2018," he said.

"As social disorder rises, we're also seeing a relatively proportionate increase in violence and weapons, confirming some relationship between them."

He said many of the statistics don't reflect the large quantity of calls police respond to where mental health is a contributing factor.

Weapon calls are a "reflection of the level of violence" in the community, McBride said, and they require an elevated response to ensure officer and public safety.

"Since 2018, there has been an increase by 126 per cent in weapon calls in Saskatoon. As of 2023, the Saskatoon Police Service was getting roughly an average of about seven weapon calls per day," he said.

McBride said there has also been a significant increase in serious assaults, with a 63 per cent jump from 2018 to 2023. He said intimate partner violence continues to be a significant problem in Saskatoon, with 393 such cases reported in the first seven months of 2024.

As the city is growing, McBride said the demand for police services is increasing, prompting the ask for more money.

New vehicles a large part of capital needs

Mcbride said that on top of the $2,523,000 more needed for 2025 capital projects, the police service's 2026-2029 capital plan has increased by $1,350,000.

"The main changes relate to a need to replace IT infrastructure and our closed circuit TV camera system that is at the end of its life," he said.

"As well as increases to the police vehicle fleet."

McBride said that of the increased money police are asking for, $766,000 will go for vehicles for new patrol members.

He said four marked cars have already been added to the fleet, with six more to be added.

McBride said the police board reviews and approves the budget estimates and forwards to Saskatoon City Council for further consideration and approval.