Sault police looking to hire more officers downtown
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has tabled a request to significantly increase its budget as it looks to target crimes in the city's downtown area.
A series of violent incidents has led the Sault police to increase its efforts in the downtown – but those efforts come with a hefty price tag.
Next year's proposed policing budget comes in just under $39 million – or with an increase of 13.5 per cent – it includes funding to add a new division specifically for the downtown area; something police leadership said is needed.
"The presence of officers in static-type patrols will deter crime,” said police chief Hugh Stevenson.
“It'll raise the perception of public safety, and it'll take that area back for us."
John Bruno is the appointed chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board. He told CTV News that he knows the police budget has “ballooned a little bit.”
“But I think our public has told us that they want to feel safe in our city,” said Bruno.
“We all want to feel safe in our city."
Since 2020 the service has operated dynamic patrols in the downtown, where officers are paid overtime to keep a presence in the area.
"You can't run a police service on overtime,” said Stevenson.
“You can't run a business on overtime, because it’s financially unreasonable to do that over time."
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
- Want more local news? Check out the Sault Ste. Marie page
If approved, the budget would see 17 officers added over 3 years for the downtown division – the largest increase to the police service's staffing complement since 1998.
“When I go to council I'll be very clear, this is an adequacy and effectiveness issue,” said the chief.
“We have to police this community, it’s in the act. My job is to tell you what I need to do that."
Also included in the proposed budget is the purchase of body-worn cameras for all officers over the next 10 years, with officials hoping to begin implementing the use of them by next summer.
The service is also looking to hire four more dispatch operators.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
opinion
opinion As Trump burns through cash, powerful Republicans are rallying behind a surging candidate
With less than 50 days until Republican voters begin the process of determining their nominee to take on President Joe Biden, political analyst Eric Ham writes about a storm brewing within the GOP -- as super-donors align behind a surging candidate who could pose a threat to frontrunner Donald Trump.
4 in custody after 'brutal' death of Quebec entrepreneur, partner in Dominica
Four people are in police custody after Quebec businessman Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand were found dead in Dominica.
Speaker Fergus apologizes, faces calls to resign over 'personal' video played at Ontario Liberal event
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus apologized to MPs on Monday about a 'personal' video tribute message played this weekend at the Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention, but two opposition parties say that's not enough and are now calling for him to resign over his 'unacceptable' participation in a partisan event.
Escaped kangaroo found safe after 3 days on the loose in Ontario
A kangaroo that escaped the Oshawa Zoo during a one-night stay last week has been recaptured after more than three days on the loose.
CBC says it is cutting 600 jobs, some programming as it slashes budget
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and Radio-Canada will eliminate about 600 jobs and not fill an additional 200 vacancies. The cuts at CBC come days after the Liberal government suggested it may cap the amount of money CBC and Radio-Canada could get under a $100 million deal Ottawa recently signed with Google.
Driver arrested after nearly hitting pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Victoria
A driver was arrested in Victoria on Sunday after nearly hitting a protester with a car during a pro-Palestinian rally outside the B.C. legislature.
Short-term rentals have 'significantly impacted' housing affordability: Desjardins
A Desjardins report suggests short-term rentals likely contributed to the housing affordability crisis in Canada and around the world.
Canada's foreign interference commissioner unveils parties granted standing in inquiry
The Government of Canada as well as the Conservative and New Democratic parties are among the nearly two dozen entities granted standing to participate in the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections and democratic institutions, Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue revealed Monday.
NDP calling on Liberals to establish special immigration measures to help Canadians with families in Gaza
The federal NDP is urging the Liberals to immediately create special immigration measures to allow the evacuation of extended family members of Canadians and permanent residents in Gaza.
Barrie
-
Vandals target Barrie family, slashing tires, damaging four vehicles
A Barrie man is speaking out after three of his family's vehicles and a neighbour's car were vandalized Saturday night.
-
Canadian military member faces unprecedented prosecution for alleged sexual assault at CFB Borden
An unprecedented prosecution is underway in a Barrie criminal courtroom against an active member of the Canadian military accused of sexually assaulting a female soldier while at Canadian Forces Base Borden in 2018.
-
Attempted Muskoka cottage break-in foiled by cameras
An attempted break-in in cottage country has police looking for two suspects.
Toronto
-
EXCLUSIVEEXCLUSIVE Uber launches lawsuit over 'bad faith' council vote, calls on court to overturn ridesharing cap
Uber Canada is taking the City of Toronto to court over a surprise council vote to freeze the number of ridesharing licences.
-
Councillor calls on Toronto Public Library to cancel speaking invitation to controversial author
A city councillor is calling on the Toronto Public Library to cancel a speaking invitation extended to an author who he says “spreads disinformation and conspiracy theories about Jews and the Holocaust.”
-
'A lot' of COVID-19, flu circulating in Ontario right now: Moore
Ontario's top doctor says there is 'a lot' of COVID-19 circulating in the province right now, and levels of both that virus and influenza are on the rise.
Ottawa
-
Toronto bus company no show for Ottawa pro-Israel rally participants, UJA says
A Jewish organization says a bus service contracted to transport community members from Toronto to Ottawa for a pro-Israel rally did not show.
-
Ottawa police investigating online shooting threats at Orleans high school
The Ottawa Police Service is investigating shooting threat messages that were sent to students at Garneau Catholic High School in Orléans.
-
Large pro-Israel rally on Parliament Hill decries antisemitism
Supporters of Israel and prominent Jewish groups rallied Monday on Parliament Hill, calling for an end to antisemitic violence in Canada and for solidarity with Israel.
Kitchener
-
'Her arm was ripped open': Dog attacks McDonald's employee
Waterloo regional police are investigating an assault at a McDonald’s restaurant in Kitchener, where an employee reported being bitten by a dog.
-
Mastermind closing 18 stores including Cambridge location
Mastermind has reached a deal to the sell the bulk of its business, but 18 locations including its Cambridge store, will be closing.
-
Crash causes SUV to flip in Waterloo
A crash in Waterloo on Monday left an SUV on its side.
London
-
'This very easily could have been a fatal fire': Pet cat credited with saving owner's life during Exeter, Ont. fire
Damage was extensive to a duplex on Victoria Street in Exeter following an early morning fire — and the tenant's pet cat is credited with saving his life.
-
Allegedly impaired driver charged after crashing into hydro pole
A 67-year-old man from St. Thomas is facing multiple charges after he allegedly drove impaired over the weekend and crashed into an Elgin County hydro pole.
-
Fire crews tackle Huron County grain elevator fire
A fire inside a dryer at a grain elevator in Huron County required a large response from local emergency services Monday morning.
Windsor
-
'One of the most loyal people': Windsor dad mourned after crash
Friends and family are mourning the loss of a 27-year-old Windsor man, who is being remembered as a loyal friend and loving father.
-
WATCH
WATCH Fire closes section of Riverside Drive East
Residents are asked to avoid the area of Riverside Drive East and Alymer Avenue due to a fire in the area.
-
'We’re not here for pointing fingers': Inquest begins into 2019 OPP shooting of Tecumseh man
A coroner’s inquest started Monday into the OPP shooting of Tecumseh man.
Montreal
-
4 in custody after 'brutal' death of Quebec entrepreneur, partner in Dominica
Four people are in police custody after Quebec businessman Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand were found dead in Dominica.
-
It begins: Montreal launches first round of major snow removal program
It's not winter in Montreal until the plow trucks roll in. The city was blanketed in a fresh blanket of snow over the weekend, and officials say they're ready to start clearing roads, sidewalks and bike paths.
-
CBC says it is cutting 600 jobs, some programming as it slashes budget
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and Radio-Canada will eliminate about 600 jobs and not fill an additional 200 vacancies. The cuts at CBC come days after the Liberal government suggested it may cap the amount of money CBC and Radio-Canada could get under a $100 million deal Ottawa recently signed with Google.
Atlantic
-
Sticky, weighty snow totals more than 20 cm for parts of the Maritimes
There were snowy roads and plenty of work for snow blowers and shovels for parts of the Maritimes on Monday as the region contends with the first heavy snowfall of December.
-
Majority of N.S. power outages restored following heavy snow
Many Nova Scotians woke up to a blanket of snow on Monday morning which caused school closures, slippery roads and power outages.
-
Fellow Maritime musicians remember Myles Goodwyn
While attempting to sum up the life and career of Myles Goodwyn’s, five-time ECMA award winner Charlie A’Court said April Wine, which was led by Goodwyn, showed the world the high-level of music talent produced in Canada.
Winnipeg
-
Poll shows Wab Kinew has highest approval rating among Canadian premiers
He has only been in office since October, but Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is already boasting the highest approval rating among Canadian premiers, according to a new poll.
-
Winnipeg seeing spike in shoplifting incidents: police
Winnipeg is seeing a 44 per cent spike in shoplifting incidents this year.
-
Two charged with second-degree murder in teen's stabbing death
Officers with the Manitoba RCMP have charged two people, including a 14-year-old male, with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a teenager in a northern First Nation community.
Calgary
-
Invasive ‘super pigs' encroaching on Alberta's mountain parks, experts warn
Experts are warning that Canada's "super pigs" – a crossbreed of wild boars and domestic pigs – are quickly encroaching on mountain parks and communities in Alberta.
-
Calgary Catholic School District's delayed entry pilot cancelled
A pilot plan to change the daily school hours for students enrolled in the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) has been grounded, the board says.
-
Drugs, guns and body armour seized from southwest Calgary home after shooting
Calgary police say a shooting in the community of Woodlands last month led to the seizure of almost $300,000 in illegal drugs and a handful of guns.
Edmonton
-
Girls, 12, charged in 'violent assault' of woman at Edmonton LRT station
Two 12-year-old girls were charged with assault in connection with the assault of a woman at an LRT station in late November.
-
Alberta minister's son in critical condition after crash
The youngest children of an Alberta minister were injured in a crash last Friday.
-
St. Albert woman killed in Highway 28 crash
A 30-year-old woman from St. Albert was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 28 east of Morinville Monday morning.
Vancouver
-
Driver arrested after nearly hitting pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Victoria
A driver was arrested in Victoria on Sunday after nearly hitting a protester with a car during a pro-Palestinian rally outside the B.C. legislature.
-
Vancouver parking permits could cost 20% more in 2024
Fees for residential parking permits in the City of Vancouver could increase by up to 20 per cent in 2024, according to a proposal coming to council along with next year's budget.
-
Southern B.C. braces for heavy rain as atmospheric river makes landfall
An atmospheric river has made landfall in southern British Columbia, prompting Environment and Climate Change Canada to issue rainfall warnings for Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
