The second half of 2019 was a challenging one for the Saskatoon Police Service.
That was highlighted during an annual report to the Board of Police Commissioners.
Police Chief Troy Cooper says until mid-June, it was an average year with 4 homicides to that point and then by the end of the year there were 16.
Violent crime increase by 10 per cent compared to 2018 and homicide were up by 60 per cent.
Cooper says although the statistics were significant when it comes to violent crimes, there was some success in the response.
The Police Service restructured its Criminal Investigations Division and along with the RCMP, created the Integrated Crime Reduction Team.
Also, more officers were deployed downtown and in the Pleasant Hill area.
The challenge of gangs in the city is not something police can solve on its own.
That’s why the Police Service has partnered with the province on an anti-gang strategy and is also working with an outreach group.
It’s not just Saskatoon that is dealing with crime increases, though.
Cooper says across the province, homicides were up by 53 per cent.