This new monthly message is part of my commitment to ongoing engagement and transparency. Please reach out to news@thunderbaypolice.ca with questions and feedback that will shape future reports as well as our social media content.
January 2025
2024 was a challenging year, with unprecedented pressures on the services provided by Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS). Despite the time of year or time of day, TBPS officers show up and are constantly hard at work. Police officers responded to over 3,900 calls for service in December, an average of more than 125 calls per day. This includes the following.
Type of Call | Number |
Weapons | 61 |
Unwanted Person | 325 |
Domestic/Family Dispute | 268 |
Theft, including Shoplifting | 135 |
Assault, including Sexual Assault | 140 |
Motor Vehicle Collision | 274 |
Every call is different and the amount of time it takes for a police officer to complete a call in its entirety can vary widely depending on the type of call, the complexity of the situation, and the specific procedures involved. When an arrest is made, time spent for booking, fingerprinting, and processing can add an extra 1-2 hours to a call for service.
Here are some approximate ranges:
- Routine/Non-Emergency Calls: For minor incidents or traffic violations, officers may spend 30 minutes to 2 hours from start to finish.
- Emergency Calls (Low Complexity): For emergency calls that do not require extensive follow-up or investigation, total time might be 1 to 3 hours.
- Emergency Calls (High Complexity): For major incidents such as violent crimes or serious accidents, the time to fully complete the response and investigation could stretch from several hours to multiple days.
In December, officers also spent a significant amount of time holding crime scenes. Crime scenes can be held for various reasons, such as to process evidence or at the request of the Coroner. Two officers are required to guard a single crime scene. In December, we held several scenes for investigative purposes, including three separate scenes at one time for multiple days.
Despite this strain on resources, the Festive RIDE Program was active over the holiday season. The number of impaired driving charges laid demonstrates the need for ongoing awareness and enforcement. I thank those who remain committed to keeping our roads safe by driving sober.
I am proud of every member of our team – those on the front lines and those working hard behind the scenes. Their dedication and professionalism are both unwavering and inspiring. Because of them, countless successes were realized in 2024.
I look forward to continued growth, innovation and meaningful progress in 2025.
Read previous messages:
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024