The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted policing in South Simcoe in some unexpected ways.
This week, Deputy Police Chief Robin McElary-Downer provided the Bradford West Gwillimbury-Innisfil Police Services Board with the stats, comparing calls received during the period from March 15 — when the COVID shutdown began — to the present day, with the same period last year.
“Once March sets in, activity significantly drops off,” she said.
Due to COVID protocols, vehicle stops are way down. In 2019, South Simcoe police issued 996 warnings and laid 2,142 traffic charges in Bradford and Innisfil during the four-month period. This year, that dropped to 394 warnings and 609 charges.
The number of impaired and related charges were also down, again due to a change in policing. RIDE programs went from 63 in 2019 to only 13 in the same period this year.
However, the number of drunk drivers involved in collisions remained unchanged, sitting at seven.
Some criminal activity has also declined during COVID. With more people staying home during the day, residential break-ins declined from 22 in the four-month period in 2019 to only five this year, while commercial break-and-enters dropped from 12 to six.
Similarly, vehicle thefts decreased from 51 to 27.
But other complaints increased.
Domestic assaults between siblings went up from 10 to 13 calls, while breach of domestic orders jumped from one to six, and the calls to police as a result of verbal arguments went up from 78 to 95.
Landlord/tenant disputes doubled from 36 in 2019 to 73 during the same period in 2020.
Renovation fraud, identity theft and internet fraud all increased this year; internet fraud complaints went up by one-third.
Bylaw complaints also increased. The majority related to COVID, with residents reporting large gatherings or the removal of security tape from public areas. There were also 169 people who were “educated” on the pandemic regulations, McElary-Downer said.
As the economy has gradually reopened and things return to “normal,” there has been a gradual increase in the number of complaints, said Police Chief Andrew Fletcher.
“Call volume has definitely gone up compared to three months ago," he said.
Police services board members asked for greater detail, including a month-by-month breakdown.
There was a suggestion that residents are becoming more impatient and more likely to push the limits as the pandemic drags on.
“More speeding,” said board member Chris Gariepy. “People are on the gas pedal now.”
“I’m getting a lot more calls about people being more reckless on boats,” said Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin, such as water-skiing or tubing without a spotter, or coming in too close to shore. “The lake seems to be so much busier this year.”
“I realize we have only one boat and a really big shoreline," she added.
McElary-Downer said the South Simcoe police marine unit responded to 26 calls in June alone, including five search-and-rescue operations.
“We do have busy days,” she said, while also acknowledging there are more personal watercraft on Lake Simcoe now than at any other time in the last 11 years.
The marine unit hasn’t changed its level of service, she said.
“Our marine unit is out there four days a week," McElary-Downer said. "We’re not on the lake the other days of the week."
Although, Fletcher suggested the police department might organize a “blitz” targeting unsafe boaters.
COVID-19 has also had an impact on South Simcoe police's financial situation.
The purchase of personal protective equipment, or PPE, was an unbudgeted $21,000 line item, noted the chief.
Officers are now equipped with face masks.
At the same time, South Simcoe police has experienced savings due to reduced patrols and calls, reduced fuel consumption and maintenance costs, and cancellation of Ontario Police College (OPC) training sessions earlier in the year.
New vehicles have been ordered but, because of COVID, have not been delivered. This means that money from the budget hasn’t been spent.
That’s also the case for the six new hirings approved for 2020. Hiring was delayed due to COVID and the cancellation of OPC training, allowing the department to save on salaries and benefits.
And there was a drop in overtime, as officers cancelled their vacation plans, opting to stay at home and work.
As a result, the month of June saw a “positive variance” of $598,205, compared to budgeted expenses.
A $10,000 grant to train officers in dealing with guns and gangs has also been unspent, due to the temporary suspension of the training programs.
“We’re thinking outside the box (about) how we can use that money,” said Fletcher. “Things change daily, weekly, monthly.”
