Saskatoon Police Service resources are exhausted from the unusually high call volume that hasn’t abated since this summer, with more homicides and complicated investigations. That from Chief Troy Cooper who says over 90 days there were 10 homicides this spring and summer. The 14th homicide of the year was Saturday morning, when a 27 year old man succumbed to his injuries following a fight in the 900 block of Northumberland Avenue in the Massey Place neighbourhood.

That’s why the Police Service is juggling hours for about 20 officers in the Traffic Unit, so they can help out in as needed. Cooper appreciates the professionalism all employees of the SPS have shown over this unusually busy and stressful period and thanks them for their efforts.

He says there is nothing they can point to as the reason for the call volume increase. Drug involvement has contributed to some of it, but there is no link, and the same goes for gang involvement and firearm use. There is no pattern or trend for the violence.

Cooper expects the call volumes will slow down as they usually do when it cools off outside, but when asked what happens if this is the new norm he says they will evaluate and do some longer term planning.