Saskatoon’s Mayor says a rise in violent crime, a rapidly growing number of people on the streets and a reduction in services to help the most vulnerable are challenges the City is facing right now. Charlie Clark says, “In the first four months of this year, there have already been more than half the annual record number of homicides in our city. These incidents of violence have our full attention.”

The incoming Chief of the Saskatoon Police Service, Cam McBride says violent crime is up about 10 per cent this year over last year at this time, but this doesn’t take into account the overall population growth. Interim Chief of the Fire Department, Pamela Goulden-McLeod states that last year from January through May 10th, there were 114 confirmed encampments and this year, there have been 255. When it comes to overdoses, during that same time period, there were 372 last year and 520 this year.

That bring us to the response. Over the last two years, the City, the Police Service and the Fire Department have been working together to coordinate public safety personnel, emergency outreach, cleaning, data analysis and community relations.

• As of July 1, 2024, there will be a doubling of SPS capacity to engage in community-focused policing initiatives, through the addition of 3 Community Mobilization Unit (CMU) officers that will work in partnership with our 3 Community Liaison Officers.
• SPS will have 5 additional Alternative Response Officers trained and deployed to the street.
• 4 new uniformed patrol officers have already been added.
• 6 new Community Support Officers (CSOs), which includes supports for the transit system, trained by SFD with support of SPS
• Increased patrols by Commissionaires of the downtown, Confederation Mall and Market Mall transit terminals. 
• Additional focused SPS support for Pleasant Hill with a Neighbourhood Safety Intervention Strategy
• The City’s Housing Accelerator Fund is being used to prioritize the development of more affordable housing. A call for proposals will be going out in June.
• Options for additional access to public washrooms with 24-hour staffing and security are being developed. The washrooms would ideally be part of a Navigation Hub, a connected or adjacent structure with staff directing people to supports and services.
• 1500 block of 20^th Street Data Project is working with community partners and businesses to identify immediate responses to safety concerns as well as developing recommendations for more long-term solutions. This first phase is receiving funding from the Provincial Government.
• The City continues to search for potential sites for new temporary and permanent provincial shelters.
• SPS and SFD have developed an operational safety plan for the Province’s Idylwyld complex needs emergency shelter to align with the operator’s intake and discharge plan.

The City of Saskatoon through Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization (EMO) has also activated an Emergency Operation Centre to coordinate a response that enables a one-city approach to addressing community safety and well-being. It includes representation from all of the relevant City departments, including SFD and SPS, in weekly update and planning meetings.