2021 Annual Report
Comparing Crime Statistics
Crime statistics in this report should not be compared to statistics from previous Annual Statistical Reports due to changes in counting rules.
It is also not recommended that the crime statistics in this report be compared to crime statistics prepared by other agencies due to the fact that different methods of categorization, geographic, technical data, and time constraints may affect the outcome.
Although comparing exact numbers is not recommended, the general trends and magnitude of change should be similar regardless of the counting method.
Detailed information pertaining to Statistics Canada crime reporting methodology can be found in the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey documents posted on Statistics Canada website.
Legend
Colour Breakdown for Statistics
2019 Statistics
2020 Statistics
2021 Statistics
Acronyms
CCC = Criminal Code of Canada
ADLS = Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension
YCJA = Youth Criminal Justice Act
R.I.D.E. = Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere
Message from the Chair
John Bruno - Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board
On behalf of the Police Services Board, I am pleased to present the 2021 Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Annual Report.
As a Board, we are honoured to share the responsibility to ensure public safety with the Chief Stevenson, Deputy Chief MacLachlan, and the members of the service.
As policing and public safety challenges evolve, we as a board are committed to evolving our decision making to meet those challenges.
We want to applaud Senior leadership, and the members, civilian and sworn, for their dedication and commitment to Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of those challenges, and members continued to respond to calls for service with professionalism and empathy despite the potential risk to their and the public’s health.
As you will see in this report, some of our calls for service continue to rise. There are underlying public health and socioeconomic issues driving some of these occurrences. We will continue to work with community partners and pursue other partnership to provide solutions.
Providing transparent statistical breakdown of the work our members do every day shows our commitment to building public trust and serving the people of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township.
As a board, we are proud of our members, and we welcome our role to support them in “Ensuring Community Safety Through Enforcement, Education and Partnerships.”
It was an honour to represent the people of our community once again as the Board Chair, and I wish Lisa Vezeau-Allen all the best as she serves as the Board Chair for 2022.
Message from the Chief
Chief Hugh Stevenson, M.O.M., Ed.D
On behalf of all members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, and under the direction of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board, I present the 2021 Annual Report.
I am proud of the perseverance and dedication our members displayed throughout a challenging 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to dominate much of our daily lives and created health and safety risks for all members daily.
In August, our members faced and overcame a new challenge, an attack of our information technology systems. The cyber-attack took down some of our internal systems and effected administrative functions. However, at no time did it effect our ability to respond to calls for service and support community members during times of crisis. The determination our members exhibited to overcome an attack of our system was inspiring.
We continue to see alarming spikes in our most serious calls for service involving weapons, including firearms. The rate in which our members respond to these calls is a risk to public safety. I, Deputy MacLachlan, and Senior Command are committed to supporting our members throughout these intense, high-risk calls for service, and ensuring we provide safe and adequate policing to the people of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township.
Our commitment to establishing and enriching dynamic partnerships with community agencies, groups and members remains strong. We are proud of the bridges we have built with a variety of groups, and we thank them for allowing us to improve those relationships together. We welcome the opportunity to celebrate and meet with them in face to face again.
The 2021 Annual Report offers a transparent look at our operations throughout the year. Along with providing complete year-end statistics, we spotlight various areas of the Service and the great work they provide the community. The data assists in decision making on deployment and response to calls for service so we can meet our goal of enhancing the quality of life for all of the people we serve.
Mission
To protect and enhance the quality of life in the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township through dynamic partnerships with community members and agencies.
Vision
Ensuring Public Safety Through Enforcement, Education & Partnerships
Values
Organizational Structure
Board Members
2021 Board Members
John Bruno
Chair - Provincial Appointee
Lisa Vezeau-Allen
Vice-Chair - Municipal Appointee
Christian Provenzano
Municipal Appointee
Ian MacKenzie
Provincial Appointee
Rick Webb
Community Representative
Sarah Miles
Board Administrator
The below numbers represent our Top 10 calls for service where the violation (criminal or non-criminal) is the most serious in a single occurrence.
Calls For Service 2021
Calls For Service 2020
Calls For Service 2019
Includes: Calls for Service, Proactive Initiatives and Administrative Occurrences
Total Incidents
Prince Township – Top Five Calls 2021
Prince Township – Top Five Calls 2020
Prince Township – Top Five Calls 2019
Other includes: Dangerous conditions, Mental Health Act, Focused Patrol, Person Welfare Checks, Suspicious Persons, 911 Call/911 Hang-Up, Attempt/Threat of Suicide, Phone Calls, Family Disputes, Trespass to Property Act, Landlord/Tenant Problem, Ambulance Assist
Other Criminal Code includes: Abduction, Arson, Attempt Murder, Bail Violations, Breach of Probation, Child Pornography, Disturb the Peace, Fraud, Harassment, Homicide, Impaired Operation, Kidnapping, Luring, Indecent Acts, Mischief, Public Morals, Sexual Assault, Threats, Obstruct Police Officer
Fast Facts
2021
$511,236
Integrated Municipal Enforcement Team (IMET)
June 2021 - Sept. 2021
Value of Drugs Seized
2019
$171,660
2020
$728,413
2021
$511,236
COVID-19
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
*The percentages of the calls that the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) took are for reportable Mental Health Act and Person Well-Being Check occurrences only.
In 2019, 2020, and 2021 Canine Officer Constable Dan Turco and Police Service Dogs (PSD) Justice and Hektor responded to calls for service.
In 2020, Sault Police along with Sault Fire Services, City of Sault Ste. Marie Building and By-Law, the housing commission and other partners formed the Integrated Municipal Enforcement Team (IMET).
This enforcement oriented team brings together all agencies with enforcement mandates, with the support of other partner agencies, to develop action plans in order to address a variety of community issues and concerns.
One of the duties of IMET will be to locate neglected properties and buildings in disrepair that are unsafe for tenants and community members.
The Community Safety Officers play a vital role with IMET as well as educating community members of crime prevention methods.
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
The Online Reporting system went live on June 26, 2020. Since that time members are constantly evaluating the process to determine the best way to provide service to the community.
This includes potential expansion of the number, and types of calls for service which can be reported online.
Currently community members can report specific crimes online, such as theft of property, allows frontline officers to respond to more serious calls in a more timely manner. Online Reporting expands our ability to more efficiently respond to calls for service.
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Our service launched its Online Reporting System in May 2020. Several types of reports can be filed online, including lost property, theft, and mischief to name a few. Bicycle registration can also be done online.
*The option to report break and enter occurrences online became available in August 2020. These break and enters only include detached garages, sheds, and outbuildings - break and enters to residences and businesses are not eligible for online reporting at this time.
** The option to report bail violation occurrences online, through John Howard Society only, became available in 2021.
June 2021 - September 2021
Nature of Collisions
R.I.D.E. Program
*Due to Legislative ammendments, reporting structures have changed.
Driving Offences
The total number of Use of Force Reports does not equal the total number of occurrences where force was used.
Public Complaints
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Results of Complaints
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
In January 2020 we launched a new website, saultpolice.ca. The rebranded site refreshed our online presence. Our main site, along with our social media platforms, @SaultPolice on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, allows us to connect with our community in a more immediate and personal way.
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Increase in Overall Page Likes
Page and Profile Visits 40,153 198% ↑
Page Reach - 559,921 8.3% ↑
Most Popular Post
September 1, 2021 – Proactive Vehicle Enforcement
69,054 people reached
17,087 thousand post clicks
3,594 likes and reactions
"Today officers with Traffic Services are working alongside the Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Transportation conducting a proactive initiative to inspect motor vehicles for modified or removed mufflers. Vehicles officers will be inspecting include commercial motor vehicles, passenger vehicles, and motorcycles.
We, along with our enforcement partners, continue to receive complaints of vehicles with aftermarket mufflers or without mufflers at all, which creates excessive noise in our community.
If you are caught with an aftermarket muffler, or without a muffler on your vehicle, you could face a fine of $110."
Top Three Most Viewed Posts
September 3, 2021 - Dynamic Patrol Initiative Video - 1,320 views
August 11, 2021 - Heavy Rainfall Public Safety Video - 1,170 views
March 11, 2021 - March in Like a Lion Weather Video - 1,034 views
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
*An impression represents how far a tweet has gone. It is the number of times the tweet has appeared on a timeline as the tweet continues to be liked and shared.
*Note - Previously Intimate Partner Violence was tracked as Domestic Violence. The previous classification has been updated throughout the report to reflect the change. Data tracking rules have not been altered.
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
New Hires
Promotions
Inspector
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
Staff Sergeant
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
Sergeant
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 0 |
Awards
30 Years Bar
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 0 |
20 Years Bar
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
25 Years City Service
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 0 |
25 Years Civilian
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Crime Stats
The below numbers represent only the most serious criminal violation in a single occurrence.
Crimes of Violence
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Crimes of Property
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
**Totals included in primary classification
Drugs
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Total Crimes
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Other Stats
The below numbers represent any occurrence where these non-criminal classifications have been captured. These classifications may not be the most serious violation on the occurrence, therefore, these may be included under one of the above criminal violations in our crime statistics.
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
*Portions may be contained in other Criminal Offences
**Note - Previously Intimate Partner Violence was tracked as Domestic Violence. The previous classification has been updated throughout the report to reflect the change. Data tracking rules have not been altered.
Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health Act and Motor Vehicle Collisions not included in Total Crimes
Court Hours
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Tesla | Nissan | Toyota | Honda | Mazda | Ford | |
| 2017 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |