The Prince Albert Police Service is reassuring its citizens that they continue to work to address, and respond to, incidents, of violent crime in Prince Albert.

The community has had several recent reports involving firearms and six homicides to date in 2021. Chief Jonathan Bergen offered condolences to those who have lost family members or have been injured due to violence in Prince Albert which he says in many cases are the result of gang activity and the suspects and victims are known to each other.

The police service says the majority of calls so far this year involved physical force, with 226 incidents; 68 incidents involving violence; and 49 threats of violence. Police have responded to 36 incidents in 2021 involving a firearm and 34 involving bear spray.

The number of incidents involving violent crime to the end of June is 560, a 5.41 per cent decrease from 592 to this same time in 2020.

The police service continues to use a multi-level approach to address illegal gang and gun activity in the city. The police service is also moving forward on plans for a multi-year proactive policing strategy, which includes the addition of four more members on patrol to compliment work being done in other targeted enforcement units such as the Community Policing Unit, Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Child Protection, Police and Crisis Team (PACT), and Community Safety Officers (CSO).

Chief Bergen says, “Our community continues to be challenged by a higher number of firearms, drugs, violence and property crime.” He adds, “Our police members also continue to respond to a high number of calls for service involving residents struggling with mental health crises, addictions, and other concerns often driven by poverty.”