By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf started out the March Cobourg Police Services Board meeting with a pleasant duty – receiving the Policing Exemplary Service Medal for 30 years of service.
But it was the year 2021 that was in the spotlight for much of the meeting with year-end stats that were presented, including his Professional Standard Unit report on discipline of members.
Eleven complaints were filed in 2021, it said – “consistent with 2020, but representing a slight decrease from 2021.”
Four of the complaints were regarding improper conduct, two were excessive force and five were neglect of duty.
“In relation to all complaints in 2021, one was withdrawn by the complainant, one was resolved by informal resolution, one was unsubstantiated (Police Act Hearing pending) and the other eight were unsubstantiated.” the report summed up.
Many January statistics show a significant rise in 2022 over January 2021. For example, violent offences (with 13 reported) are up 20% over last January, property crimes (at 34) are up 31%, other Criminal Code violations (66) are up 14%, and motor-vehicle collisions (18) are up 50%.
One exception is fraud and identity theft, where the year-to-date figures for 2022 have decreased 44% over 2021. As well, on a YTD basis, thefts from motor vehicles on a YTD basis are down 25%, and the frequency of domestic and family dispute reports is down by 90%.
However, drug poisoning is a growing concern. Between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2022, they have received 13 calls related to suspected opioid overdoses, compared to six during the same period in 2021, for a 116% increase. And in 2021, the 91 suspected opioid-overdose calls represents a 68% increase compared to the 28 calls received in 2020.
The report included a look at on-going trends in shoplifting. Suspects target highly salable products such as personal care items, tools and electronics in large quantities, often walking out with thousands of dollars in merchandise at a time. Typically, these suspects operate in pairs, with one distracting retail staff to clear the way for the second, and any vehicles involved are often rentals or parked off-site.
Reports on significant January investigations concluded rounded out the report.
A fraud that occurred at Shoppers Drug Mart was perpetrated when two unknown males called for assistance at the self-checkout. They took video of the employee entering the security pin during the transaction. The pin was then used to void the balance for their purchases – worth $2,679.28 in all. “The complainant reports that this is a new occurring trend in the Greater Toronto area,” the report said.
A charge was laid under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act after police received an anonymous complaint of a large gathering at the Orange Hall that was believed to be some sort of concert or band practice. Police saw numerous cars in the parking lot, and found 30 to 40 people inside watching a live musical performance. Most in attendance were neither masked nor socially distancing. After police ordered the venue shut down and the building vacated, they spoke with the organizer, advised how she was in violation of gathering restrictions (as well as mask and social distancing guidelines) and laid the charge.
The driver of a vehicle stopped on King Street West falsely identified herself and was arrested for obstructing police – who learned she was a suspended driver when her identity was obtained. She was additionally charged with disobeying a court order, driving while suspended and having an improper rear-plate light.
Police were sent to the Tim Hortons at 1125 Elgin St. W. after staff saw a male an a female going through the garbage and having a fire in the garbage-bin area – which caught the garbage bin on fire. No description was obtained of the suspects, who left the area before police arrived, and the fire department also responded.
Police called to Walmart for a report of four suspicious males removing security tags from items and selecting large amounts of merchandise secured a vehicle in the parking lot and waited for the suspects to exit. They were detained for theft and mischief, and it was discovered three of them were wanted on outstanding warrants from Peel, London and Niagara police services. One (from Brampton) was found to be in possession of a controlled substance, in violation of a release order.
Police were dispatched to the area of King and Ball streets for a report of several young people spray-painting. They found three youths at Henley Arcade, and police found that one male was in possession of a bag containing spray paint. He dropped the bag and ran north towards Covert Street. One male – a 20-year-old Port Hope resident – was later arrested at a convenience store and charge with four counts of mischief. Police later determined there were multiple areas of graffiti from King Street to Kerr Street, where it would appear the suspects committed further damage as they made their way downtown.
