Earlier this month, city council approved the Thunder Bay Police Service 2025 net operating budget of $59.4 million. I am grateful to council and this community for its ongoing support.
Thunder Bay Police Service front-line officers and support staff remain dedicated to providing impactful policing, delivering a high return on investment. Provincially and nationally, Thunder Bay faces a higher crime severity index and a higher demand for service. Even with budget increases lower than our peers, TBPS continues to outperform national averages in clearance rates.
In 2024, we received over 55,700 calls for service, with the majority being high-priority calls requiring immediate action due to serious threats to life or injury. We are seeing more incidents involving weapons and increasingly complex threats. While multiple agencies are working hard to provide services, gaps remain, and social issues continue to generate high call volumes for police.
91% of the 2025 budget is dedicated to the 255 sworn and 140 civilian members who serve our community. We offset some staffing costs through provincial grant funding for key initiatives, as well as increases in other revenues through secondments with our partners.
Our priorities for 2025 include:
- Completing a staffing and service delivery review to ensure we meet current and future resource needs efficiently.
- Enhanced training to address new legal requirements, including a focus on human rights and systemic racism.
- Strengthening our Peer Support program and creating a new position for supporting members on disability or WSIB.
- Expanding community partnerships to offset wage costs, such as the School Resource Officer at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, funded by the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council.
- Implementing technologies to improve efficiency, like automation for report writing.
I look forward to your continued support as we work to meet the needs of Thunder Bay.