The Saskatoon Police Service Air Support Unit responded to 1,941 calls for service last year, which is a 36 per cent increase from 2019.
That’s one of the statistics from the annual ASU report being being presented to the Board of Police Commissioners Thursday.
In 2020, with help from the ASU, there were 251 arrests and 879 charges laid, and the Unit helped with 44 incidents of people evading police.
The police plane has also assisted outside agencies such as the City, EMO, Saskatoon Search and Rescue, the Fire Department, RCMP, and both the Prince Albert and Regina Police Services.
While the plane was in the air, 25 fires were spotted and reported to the appropriate authority.

Following the recommendations of the most recent inquest to expand aerial surveillance to 24 hours so that it is available to mitigate risk to the public and officer safety, the ASU is researching the costs involved.
The ASU is researching additions including the possibility of streaming secure, reliable, live video to the Emergency Operations Centre and decision makers on the ground.

Achieving a representative workforce takes time, and although significant gains have been made in the Saskatoon Police Service, there are still many challenges ahead.
That’s according to a report being presented to the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners this afternoon equity, diversity and inclusion.
In 2020, there were 585 people employed by the Police Service and just under 51 per cent were part of at least one of the four equity groups they have outlined.
As of 2020, the number of female employees had increased by 163 per cent, the number of employees who are visible minorities was up by 330 per cent, employees with disabilities up by 205 per cent and Indigenous employees by 115 per cent, compared to when its Employment Equity Plan came to fruition in 2002.