Latest news with #CalgaryPoliceService
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Volume and severity of crime down, breaking 3-year trend: report
There's been a shift in the severity of crime across Canada, according to the most recent Statistics Canada numbers, but is Calgary seeing that same trend? Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual The volume and severity of police-reported crime in Canada decreased by four per cent in 2024. The shift follows three consecutive years of increases, according to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada. The values are calculated by a Crime Severity Index (CSI). 'A number of years ago, we created what's called the Crime Severity Index, and for that we look at the total volume and the seriousness of the offence,' said Warren Silver with the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics. The CSI also takes population into consideration. A drop in break-and-enters, child pornography and motor vehicle thefts were among the top reasons for the overall change. Alberta is also experiencing a drop in the CSI, at a six-year low. Calgary dropped 14 per cent from 2023 to 2024. 'One of the trends that's standing out for us is a fairly significant decrease in property-related crimes, and then just kind of the overall general trend downwards is very encouraging for us,' said Insp. Travis Juska with the Calgary Police Service. However, hate crimes are on the rise, according to the report. The number of reported hate crimes has increased for six years in a row, more than doubling in 2018. 'We're seeing a significant increase in hate crime reporting. It's for a number of different factors: geopolitical challenges across the globe, issues in society. One of the things that I wish to highlight is the fact that reporting is going up so much because it's becoming societally intolerable to watch hate crime,' Juska said. Shoplifting trends have also shifted in Calgary. 'It's now dubbed organized retail crime. Rather than just a singular person stealing for their own gain, you're seeing them do it as part of a larger network or doing it on behalf of somebody else, be it high-level fragrances, clothing, meat, alcohol, tools or things that are then being resold on secondary sites or kind of in an underground market setting,' Juska said.
Global News
2 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Questions surround Calgary's projected $175M surplus in 2025
The City of Calgary is forecasting another nine-figure budget surplus this year, expected to be $175 million by year's end, and that's raised questions about the reoccurring trend. The figures were released as part of a second quarter economic and financial update to city councillors Tuesday. Documents show as of June 30, the city is running a $221 million 'favourable operating variance,' but that surplus forecasted to drop to $175 million by the end of the year. The drop is due in part to spending scheduled later in the year including $28 million to cover a funding gap in the Calgary Police Service budget due to the provincial ban on photo radar. Les Tocher, the city's chief financial officer, told councillors the estimated surplus is due to lower-than-budgeted corporate contingencies, but it's mostly driven by higher interest income and one-time gains earned from rebalancing the city's investment portfolio. Story continues below advertisement 'When we rebalance our accounts, that would create a capital gain. It's a one-time gain, it's not reoccurring,' he said. This year's projection follows a trend of reported surpluses by the City of Calgary in recent years including $276.3 million last year, $236.4 million in 2023 and $258.7 million in 2022. A recent report detailing the history of the city's surpluses showed the city has reported an average surplus of $158 million over the last 10 years, with each exceeding $140 million since 2019. 2:19 Calgary city council votes to cover police budget shortfall Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said the repeated surpluses are due to overly conservative and cautious revenue estimates from city administration and not over-taxation. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'One thing we have not done well is give people certainty and predictability based on strong forecasting models, and that is something I have asked finance to fix,' Gondek told reporters. 'They have to come in with a proper forecast so that when we set the budget, we know exactly how much is needed.' Story continues below advertisement However, provincial legislation mandates that municipalities in Alberta cannot run surpluses or deficits by year's end. 'It has to be allocated,' said Lindsay Tedds, a professor at the University of Calgary's department of economics. Calgary's projected surplus in 2025 is equivalent to $110 per Calgary taxpayer, according to city administrative officer David Duckworth, but a property tax rebate appears highly unlikely and hard to do. 'It would probably cost more just to administer,' Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean said. 'Even though it would be a nice gesture for the taxpayer, a nicer gesture would be to not raise taxes.' Some on council feel it's a premature argument without knowing what the budget will look like for next year. Gondek said some of the excess revenue should be spent on one-time projects, like critical repairs to infrastructure, pointing to council approving of $25 million of the surplus back in June. 'It's a balance that council has to strike to make sure that Calgarians are getting the services they deserve and the amenities that they deserve, and they can count on us to have infrastructure maintenance happening when we set the budget,' she said. Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot downplayed the size of the surplus, noting it represents around two per cent of the city budget. Story continues below advertisement He said he hopes to see some funding allocated to a special reserve, which has been drawn down by council over the years. 'We have to be cautious about how we allocate those funds to make sure that it doesn't impact our credit rating,' Chabot told reporters. 'If it impacts our credit rating, then the costs would go up significantly in regards to the servicing costs of our debt.' Budget deliberations are scheduled in November and will be debated by the next city council, to be elected on Oct. 20, 2025.
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
More than 100 Hells Angels members barred from city businesses but no arrests at annual gathering
Dozens of Hells Angels members were barred from city businesses but police laid no charges against any of the hundreds who came to the city for an annual national gathering over the weekend. Article content Operators of businesses throughout the city notified law enforcement about the presence of the motorcycle club members, 145 of whom were then ejected under the province's Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, said city police. Article content Article content 'Due to the plan and resources in place by the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and other law enforcement agencies, the disruption from the city-wide Hells Angels Motorcycle Club event held from July 18-20, 2025, in Calgary, was reduced considerably,' said police. Article content Those actions are taken to prevent the bikers from intimidating members of the public. Article content A senior member of the club said the only irritant for he and his colleagues was being barred from restaurants and other businesses and the event otherwise went without incident. Article content 'Nothing ever happens during them, I've never heard of any issues' said the man, who chose anonymity. Article content Article content City police said they closely monitored club member s they consider part of an organized criminal group and that plainclothes intelligence officers from across the country were also present. Article content Club members were well aware of the police presence but weren't put-off by it, he said. Article content 'I have no complaints – we're so used to it it doesn't even faze us,' said the man who insists he and his Calgary colleagues are simply working men in a motorcycle club. Article content Most of the gathering was held at the Hells Angels' Calgary clubhouse on 84 St. S.E. where a circus tent was set up for a party held Friday and Saturday. Article content The senior member said about 600 full-fledged members and those with support clubs were serenaded by an AC/DC tribute band and consumed 'a lot' of beer but used shuttle buses to avoid impaired driving to hotels.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Hells Angels members barred from city businesses but no arrests at annual gathering
Dozens of Hells Angels members were barred from city businesses but police laid no charges against any of the hundreds who came to the city for an annual national gathering over the weekend. Article content Operators of businesses throughout the city notified law enforcement about the presence of the motorcycle club members, who were then ejected under the province's Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, said city police. Article content Article content Article content Article content 'Due to the plan and resources in place by the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and other law enforcement agencies, the disruption from the city-wide Hells Angels Motorcycle Club event held from July 18-20, 2025, in Calgary, was reduced considerably,' said police. Article content A senior member of the club said the only irritant for he and his colleagues was being barred from restaurants and other businesses and the event otherwise went without incident. Article content 'Nothing ever happens during them, I've never heard of any issues' said the man, who chose anonymity. Article content Article content City police said they closely monitored club member s they consider part of an organized criminal group and that plainclothes intelligence officers from across the country were also present. Article content Club members were well aware of the police presence but weren't put-off by it, he said. Article content 'I have no complaints – we're so used to it it doesn't even faze us,' said the man who insists he and his Calgary colleagues are simply working men in a motorcycle club. Article content Most of the gathering was held at the Hells Angels' Calgary clubhouse on 84 St. S.E. where a circus tent was set up for a party held Friday and Saturday. Article content The senior member said about 600 full-fledged members and those with support clubs were serenaded by an AC/DC tribute band and consumed 'a lot' of beer but used shuttle buses to avoid impaired driving to hotels.
Global News
4 days ago
- Global News
Calgary police investigate death of woman in targeted shooting Saturday
Calgary Police Service has released details of a woman who was killed Saturday afternoon in the parkade in the southwest neighbourhood of Haysboro. Madisson Cobb, 23, was identified as the victim by CPS in what they are calling a targeted incident. Police responded to a report of gunshots in the parkade of a commercial/residential complex in the 8700-block of Horton Road S.W. at around 4:30 p.m. on July 19. According to police, Cobb was walking to her vehicle after work, and did not live in any of the attached residential towers. Police and emergency services found Cobb suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and despite lifesaving efforts, she was declared dead at the scene. View image in full screen Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson gave an update on the investigation Sunday afternoon. Drew Stremick / Global News Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson with Calgary police's homicide unit says investigators are committed to catching the perpetrator. Story continues below advertisement 'This is tragic, it's horrible, and it's actually maddening that … you know someone can't walk to their vehicle safely here in the city,' Gregson said. 'This is a very cowardly act.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy CCTV footage shows a white Toyota RAV4 with a stolen British Columbia license plate of 'PP322J' leaving the scene. Police believe the suspect(s) were in that vehicle and told Global News it may have been parked on the fourth level of the parkade before the shooting. View image in full screen Calgary police are asking for help finding a white Toyota RAV4 with stolen British Columbia plates 'PP3-22J'. Calgary Police Service While this attack has been declared targeted by CPS, Gregson confirmed at a press conference Sunday that they have ruled out some motives. 'I can't confirm … that this is a domestic incident,' explained Gregson, 'but we are looking at that. We don't see any gang-related activity in this.' Calgary police are looking to speak with witnesses who have information for the following: Story continues below advertisement Had contact with Madisson Cobb prior to her death, or have any knowledge or information regarding the shooting. Have dashcam footage of Horton Road S.W. at Heritage Drive S.W. heading westbound towards 14-Street S.W. from 3-4:30 p.m. on Saturday July 19, 2025. Saw the white Toyota RAV4 in the parkade before the shooting. Have footage from the fourth level of the parkade between 3 and 4:30p.m. Anyone with information can contact Calgary Police at (403)266-1234, tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
