Pleasant Hill crime wave not ‘new normal’: Police inspector

The man in charge of public safety in Saskatoon’s core says there’s no need to panic over the recent spike in violent crime.

Saskatoon Police Inspector Cameron McBride is the commander for Central Division, which includes the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood. He calls the string of shootings and gang violence which prompted a warning from a senior officer last week, a “momentary spike” and one that can be managed.

“We believe that we will be able to get a handle on it and we will do so quickly,” he said.

McBride, who oversees the safety of roughly 37,000 residents each day, said they are addressing the problem on two fronts. Extra patrols in the area will continue, and officers have also been deployed into the neighbourhood to find the people committing the crimes.

“We have people in the neighbourhood who are actively engaged in crime. We’re finding out who is doing what and trying to cut that off,” he said.

Police have reported five shootings in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood in March. One included a 31-year-old man shot to death in an alley near St. Paul’s Hospital. A sixth shooting victim was treated at St. Paul’s Hospital on Monday, though it’s unknown where the 18-year-old woman was when she was shot.

Several residents told 650 CKOM they feel unsafe in the neighbourhood. McBride said while residents should remain vigilant and continue reporting suspicious activity, he noted there’s no need for residents to change “what you do on a daily basis.”

McBride said the driving force behind violent crimes is most often drugs, but its only one piece of the overal crime picture.

“We not only look at the police response in what we can do,” he said.

“We’re also partnering with mental health and addictions, with various partners who have a vested interested in the community and try to look at from as many angles as we can.”

Police Chief Troy Cooper will attend a forum in Pleasant Hill on Friday, March 29 to hear the concerns of residents.