MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE POLICE COMMITTEE HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015, AT 11:15 AM IN THE CORPORATE BOARDROOM, CITY HALL RECOMMENDATION: For Council information only. PRESENT: MEDIA: P. Milobar, Mayor, Chair K. Christian, Councillor P. Wallace, Councillor B. Fogarty, S/Sgt., Kamloops Detachment, RCMP B. Mueller, Supt., OIC, Kamloops Detachment, RCMP S. Parmar, Insp., Kamloops Detachment, RCMP K. Beeton, Client Support Services Supervisor, City of Kamloops D. Duckworth, Corporate Services and Community Safety Director, City of Kamloops J. Wilson, Community Safety and Enforcement Manager, City of Kamloops T. M. Watson, Legislative Assistant, City of Kamloops, Recording Secretary G. Brothen, InfoNews M. Youds, NewsKamloops 1. Call to Order Mayor Milobar called the meeting to order at 11:18 am. 2. Agenda 3. Minutes Moved by Councillor Christian, seconded by Councillor Wallace, that the agenda be adopted as presented. CARRIED. The minutes of the July 27, 2015, Police Committee meeting were received.
Page 2 4. Reports a) RCMP Status Report - Third Quarter 2015 Supt. B. Mueller provided the committee with the third quarter RCMP status report on the six strategic priorities currently being worked on, as well as the crime statistics: Property Crimes The most common crime was theft of items from motor vehicles due to vehicles being left unlocked or personal belongings being left in plain sight. There were 452 thefts from motor vehicles during the third quarter, which is a 28% increase from the same period in 2014. Bait cars were utilized to combat the issue, with five activations in the third quarter, resulting in one subject being charged. A crime ring that was responsible for a number of break and enters was apprehended and $20,000 of stolen property was recovered. Music equipment worth $10,000 that was stolen at Ribfest was recovered. Traffic and Road Safety Traffic and road safety is a high priority for the Kamloops Detachment with upcoming holiday season. There were 104 incidents involving drivers who were impaired by either drugs or alcohol. Three fatal collisions and 361 non-fatal collisions were reported. Distracted drivers and impaired drivers were the focus of the "Summer Heat Project". Members continue to work with other partners to address cell phones, seat belts, and intersections. Organized Crime (Drug Trafficking) The Targeted Enforcement Unit continues to target gangs, illicit drug activity, and property crime. Preparation of the disclosure package for Project PRIME, a project that culminated in the dismantling of the super methamphetamine lab in June, was the primary focus in the last quarter. First Nations Policing (Kamloops RCMP Rural Detachment Initiative) Presentations on a variety of topics were made to First Nations communities and were well received. The RCMP Rural Detachment completed 13 road checks in this quarter. 58 warnings and 141 violation tickets were issued from July to September 2015.
Page 3 Crime Reduction Property crime increased by 16.2% (237 additional files due to prolific offenders travelling from community to community). There were 657 curfew checks conducted, which was an average of seven curfew checks per night. There were 368 street checks conducted to proactively address suspicious persons. The Kamloops Crime Reduction Unit located and arrested 18 individuals on outstanding warrants. Vulnerable Persons There were 242 requests for service from those clients who suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues. 205 missing persons files were reviewed and a number of conferences on the topic were attended. A training session will be held at the Kamloops RCMP Detachment on the topic of missing persons. There were 193 domestic violence files reviewed by the High Risk Domestic Violence Coordinator representing a 5% reduction as compared to the same period in 2014, with 61 individuals charged or had charges recommended. Crime Statistics - Calls for Service The RCMP responded to 11,458 calls for service in the third quarter. Crime Statistics - Actual Offences Crimes against the person increased by 4%. Crimes against property increased by 18%. Other Criminal Code violations decreased by 11%. Controlled drugs and substance acts increased by 5%. Other federal statute violations decreased by 2%. Provincial statute violations increased by 5%. Traffic violations increased by 1%. Overall, there was a 2.1% decrease in actual offences when compared to the same quarter in 2014. Criminal Code offences saw an overall 1.5% increase when compared to the same quarter in 2014.
Page 4 b) Community Safety and Enforcement Report - Third Quarter Summary 2015 J. Wilson, Community Safety and Enforcement Manager, provided the committee with a verbal report highlighting the third quarter activities involving the Bylaw Enforcement and Community Safety Division: Bylaw Enforcement - Third Quarter 2015 Transit Exchanges - Lansdowne and North Shore Bylaw Officers attended both exchanges daily and conduct on-site monitoring and spot patrols. - Activity decreased at the Lansdowne Exchange, but non-compliant activity increased at the North Shore Exchange. - Bylaw coverage focused on the North Shore Exchange during the month of September due to nuisance behaviour. Transient Camps Transient camp complaints/files have decreased slightly from 243 files in 2014 to 231 so far this year. Panhandling 47 files have been generated to date versus 50 in the same period in 2014, showing a slight decline. Concerns have been recently identified in other business areas, such as Valleyview, where panhandling activity is occurring more on private property than on public property. Bylaw Enforcement is working with partner agencies to determine what support and recommendations can be provided for Valleyview property owners. Animal Control To date, there is an increase of dog bite complaints, resulting in 32 incidents versus 15 incidents in 2014. Increased focus on dog licensing requirements, which supports animal identification and program support for animal control. Noise There was an increase of ten files for parties and amplified music complaints (143 versus 133 in the same quarter in 2014). There was a small reduction in construction noise complaints (23 versus 25 in the same quarter in 2014).
Page 5 Graffiti 177 graffiti files were generated to date. 107 files were generated on private property versus 76 files in 2014 (increase). 70 files were generated on public property versus 76 files in 2014 (decrease). Continuing to work with the Graffiti Task Force for cleanup. Public Areas 67 files were opened for persons with alcohol in public versus 42 in 2014. This activity is primarily occurring in parks and at transit exchanges. 71 files were opened relating to unsafe/nuisance behaviour occurring in public areas such as parks as compared to 61 files in 2014. Partnered Activities Working with the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association to support training for its new, year-round CAP Team. School zone monitoring with areas schools started in September 2015. Community Safety - Third Quarter 2015 Speed Watch 109,031 vehicles were checked year to date. Four cell phone surveys were conducted, resulting in cell phone use being observed six times. 449 volunteer hours to date in 2015 during 219 deployments. Citizens on Patrol 52 patrols conducted in 2015 year to date, utilizing 492 volunteer hours. 2,590 plates checked. Block Watch Program There are seven active Block Watches throughout the City. Program awareness is growing with additional neighborhood presentations and program public education being scheduled. Restorative Justice The Restorative Justice Program is operating well with file referrals increasing. Work will be done to engage Loss Prevention Officers in the community for program awareness and support.
Page 6 5. Next Meeting Events and Upcoming Projects Broader community education at the 2015 Home Show. Crime prevention awareness with Thompson Rivers University students. Seniors awareness - personal safety and fraud and scam awareness. National Crime Prevention Week - November 1-7, 2015: - focus on Lock Out Auto Crime initiatives; - Out of Sight - focus on keeping valuables out of sight in vehicles when parked to reduce opportunistic theft and damages; - Safe for the Season - focus on larger retail outlets and shoppers during the Christmas season; and - Operation Red Nose - planning meetings are currently being held. Volunteer recruitment - 38 volunteers currently in the program. School District No. 73 and RCMP partnership on social media safety. The next meeting will be held on January 25, 2016, at 11:15 am, in the Corporate Boardroom, City Hall. 6. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 12:00 pm. T. M. Watson, Recording Secretary Legislative Assistant P. Milobar, Chair Mayor TMW/ts/kjm