The Board of Police Commissioners Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN January 7, 2019 The Honourable Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan Room 226, Legislative Building 2405 Legislative Drive Regina, SK S4S OB3 Dear Premier Moe: Re: 2018 Saskatoon Traffic Safety Initiative Project The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners recently received the attached report from the Saskatoon Police Service regarding the 2018 Traffic Safety Initiative. As always, the Commission evaluates information through the lens of "community safety". The Traffic Safety Initiative is an important component of community safety, and for that reason, the news that the Province of Saskatchewan plans to eliminate the funding for this program is of great concern to the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners. The program, originally funded through Saskatchewan Government Insurance has worked, and in fact, worked very well. In 2018, the funding enabled the Saskatoon Police Service to conduct 17 Traffic Safety Initiatives, typically involving 5 to 9 Police Service members, for about 5 hours for each initiative. The locations included high-volume traffic areas as well as additional school zones, over and above what could have taken place without the program. Additionally, some very important time frames were included in the program, such as early September for additional "back to school" enforcement and at Halloween when 30 neighbourhoods received additional traffic safety coverage. Statistically speaking, the results are compelling. From 2017 to 2018, when the program's financial allocation was increased by 14%, the activity and traffic enforcement interaction level increased by 24%. A leveraged outcome such as this is important to retain. Members of the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners are unanimous in their view that this type of additional enforcement makes our community a safer place —for everyone. The loss of this program, on the other hand, is highly problematic. Because the Traffic Safety Initiative impacts the full cross-section of our community, we have included Saskatoon City Council in the distribution of this communication. The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners feels the cut in funding will negatively impact community safety. 222 - 3RD AVE. NORTH •CITY HALL • SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN S7K OJ5 January 7, 2019 Page 2 We would like to know if there will be alternative sources of funding for this initiative, when will those plans be communicated? And if such plans are in the works, through which provincial government agency will the program funding be provided? We look forward to your response and thank you for your consideration, Mr. Premier, of the implications and importance of this program on community safety for all of the residents of Saskatoon. Yours truly, Darlene Brander, Chair Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners /jf Attachment cc: The Honourable Joe Hargrave, Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance The Honourable Christine Tell, Minister of Corrections and Policing Saskatoon City Council "PUBLIC AGENDA" TO: Darlene Brander, Chairperson Board of Police Commissioners .fir 't`'~ f ,,~-t FROM: Troy Cooper ~1 1~ Ysa~ r.~m ~' ~5., s. ' Office of the Chief DATE: 2018 Nov 16 SUB~TECT: 2018 Traffic Safety Initiative Results FILE #: 2,012-7 ISSUE: The Saskatoon Police Service has completed the Traffic Safety Initiative project funded by the City of Saskatoon's Automated Speed•Enforcement (ASE) program. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board receives this report as information. BACKGROUND: The City of Saskatoon provided the Saskatoon Police Service with $80,000 in funding in order to complete targeted traffic enforcement programs known as TrafFc Safety Initiatives (TSB. Those funds came from the city's ASE revenue. Funds were used to conduct 17 individual TSI projects. Staffing varied from 5 to 9 members, depending on location. With the exception of the two Back to School TSIs which were 10 hours in duration, the projects were 5 hours in duration. EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT: Date Location Charges August 20, 2018 Idylwyld Dr & 39 St 78 August 23, 2018 University Bridge 80 August 28, 2018 Highway 11 near Vic Boulevard 107 September 4, 2018 Back to School, various locations 329 September 5, 2018 Back to School, various locations 329 September 13, 2018 University Bridge 68 September 23, 2018 Circle Dr neax ort Dr 129 Se tember 25, 2018 Primrose Dr & Cree Pl 69 October 3, 2018 University Bridge 52 October 8, 2018. University Bridge 88 October 17, 2018 College Dr near McKercher Dr 50 October 21, 2018 Broadway Ave near 8t St 14 "PUBLIC AGENDA" October 25, 2018 22" St &Betts Ave 71 October 31, 2018 Halloween residential patrols (30 15 neighborhoods covered) November 4, 2018 Idylwyld Dr & 39t St 29 November 7, 2018 Warman Rd near Millar Ave 47 November 12, 2018 Id lwyld Dr & 39 St 71 1624 The overall results were as follows: Offence Charges overall Speed 687 42% Distracted Driving 331 20% Seatbelt 67 4% Sus ended Driver 16 <1 Unregistered Vehicle 18 1% Speed in School Zone 388 24% Disobey Traffic Light 8 <1% Fail to hold valid licence 14 <1% Drive without due care & 2 mil% attention Equipment violations 92 6% Insecure load 1 <1% TOTAL 1624 In 2017, a similar program was conducted using $70,000. 1310 charges were laid at that time. This represents an increase of 24% in charges over last yeax with an increase of 14% in funding. Written by: Patrick Barbar Staff Sergeant, Traffic Section Approved by: Larry Vols Inspector, Specialized Uniform Operations Division Mitch Yuzdepski Deputy Chief, Support ~rervices Submitted by: Troy Cooper Chief of Police / ~ ~ / ~/. Dated: 2 .