Increase in calls a major concern at North Bay Police Services Board meeting

Calls for North Bay Police rising is not a new occurrence.

Deputy Chief Scott Tod says calls went up again in April and in many cases officers are going to the same place and in one case 78 times in a 5 year period.

“Those are taxing police resources to attend to the same address, or the same person or the same situation that’s occurring,” he says.

He says they’ve hired an analyst to look at the data.

Tod says they have community partners through the community hub they’re part of and in many cases other partners may be the best case of addressing the issue.

He says only 20 per cent of their time is actually spent on investigative work.

Tod says going to the same situation at the same location can lead to complacency and frustration.

“As well, there are more important things that can be done yet we’re responding to situations that don’t really require a police presence,” he says