(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Charlene Tebbutt

community safety

Number of P.A. homicides not typical: Police

Mar 25, 2019 | 5:43 PM

The deaths of four people by violence in Prince Albert in recent weeks – including two within days of each in the same downtown apartment building – has shocked the community, but isn’t typical, police say.

Two murders in February and now another two in March, including the tragic death of a toddler, are startling, but statistics show the number is not common. The last time Prince Albert had four or more homicides was back in 2003, Police Chief Jonathan Bergen told a board of police commissioners meeting Monday.

Bergen said none of the four homicides are connected to each other, including the two from last week, which both happened at Rivercrest Apartments in downtown Prince Albert. While the numbers are concerning, the incidents are isolated, he said.

“Can people feel safe, and again we looked at each one individually, and because they’re isolated to their own incident, I think that yes, the answer is yes,” Bergen told paNOW. “Any one is concerning for the city and the police service, so whether it be one or four, or even if we see any more, each one on its own is absolutely a concern for us. We don’t typically have this many homicides in a year.”

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The death of a 22-year-old man on Friday in the Rivercrest Apartments building was the latest homicide to happen in Prince Albert, and the second in the same week. A young child was also the victim of a homicide just two days before, on March 20.

Five people have been charged in relation to the incident from Friday. Police charged a 29-year-old man Monday with second degree murder in connection with the death of the 21-month-old child.

“A death investigation is quite extensive, and we make sure to focus on every detail no matter how small before coming forward with any criminal charges,” Bergen added.

Asked about concerns around safety in light of the recent homicides, Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne said the city is still safe, noting arrests have been made in the most recent deaths.

“Our community is as safe as any other community,” Dionne added. “I live here [and] I’ve never felt not safe.”

The city’s board of police commissioners also discussed options around crime-free multi-housing on Monday, which would involve local landlords and property managers in spotting and reporting suspicious activity. Dionne said having a crime-free label on apartment and multi-unit buildings can help tenants feel safer.

Some members of the board expressed concern around the level of cooperation the city would get from local landlords and rental property managers, however. The city will look at other communities to determine whether the idea could work here, Dionne said.

“At the end of the day, we want all people, whether you live in a multi-house unit or your own home, we want you to feel safe in your own home,” Dionne said.

A report presented to the board Monday said Saskatoon is the only Saskatchewan community with the crime-free multi-housing program in place, at a cost of about $171,000 per year, which covers two full-time and one part-time staff member.

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Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt