You wouldn't normally think of policing as a growth industry, but the past few years, and most likely the next five to seven years, are expected to be a period of growth for the Estevan Police Service.
In an interview with the Estevan Mercury for the ongoing Estevan 2020 series, Chief Del Block said the biggest challenge facing his department as we inch towards 2020 is keeping up with the growth of the city from a policing standpoint.
In his conversations with local business people, Block said he's been told to expect Estevan's growth to continue for at least another 10 years. Armed with that knowledge Block said it will be critical for him and his predecessor - Block plans to retire in 2014 - to keep up with the growth and ensure the EPS is prepared for the future.
"It's hard for us to project and you don't want to be behind the eight ball and get in a bind where all of a sudden you need four or five guys, but at the same time you want to keep it within a manageable amount for the City because of the finances and the cost."
Including Block, the EPS currently has 27 officers on the staff. When he took over as chief in 2008 they had 19. He added that when looking at staffing numbers, they try to keep a ratio of one officer for every 500 residents. At their current totals - based on the recent population number of 12,334 - they have a ratio of 456 to 1.
"Anytime you start getting over (500 to 1) you are spreading yourself pretty thin," he said. "You are basically doing just necessity stuff, you can't do the other things that you would like to do like crime prevention and school resources."
Block said the current staffing numbers are a boon to the EPS as they allow him the flexibility to shift officers around to areas of need. Of note is the traffic section, which was created in 2012 but had to be put on hold when they lost two officers to long term medical leave.
"We had to pull people off (traffic) and we are now back to filling in shifts and I can get my traffic section going," he said. "Traffic enforcement has been an issue at the police board and in council and we know it's an issue. That is going to be a priority in 2013."
Another important aspect of their current staff levels is changing the overall approach of the department.
Block has noted in the past that he feels the city's rapid growth caused the EPS to shift from being a proactive police force to a reactive police force. He is hopeful that in 2013 and the years beyond, they can get back to the proactive side with crime prevention programs.
"The only way you can do that is have the resources to do it. Without the resources to be able to complete the task, you are behind the eight ball and we don't want to be in that position."
On the topic of resources, Block said ensuring the department is well equipped is another area he is constantly aware of. He said the City has provided excellent equipment for the EPS and the local officers are well looked after.
There is also the challenge of keeping up with ongoing technological advancements in the policing field such as a new fingerprinting system.
"But the equipment for that is over $100,000 so for us to do that is a big step," he said. "It's a budgetary process, you have to prioritize stuff but there is all kinds of new stuff, coming out, you just have to have the money to be able to buy it.
"I expect to see conducted energy devices approved in the province. I expect to see carbines approved down the road, especially in relation to the recent school shooting in the United States. There is a need for that in the vehicles and the training that comes with it. I think you are going to see those two to three years down the road."
Block said another issue for them moving forward is their building itself. He said the department has outgrown their building and an expansion will be needed before long.
"I wouldn't suggest a new building. Because of the proximity to the court house, you couldn't have a better setting."
Were they to expand Block said it would likely be into their parking lot, as the building is not designed for a second floor.
"We are packed full. Every nook and cranny is used."
Another area of growth, and an unfortunate one at that, are the crime statistics for the city. Over each of the past four years, the EPS has reported year over year growth on their number of calls and prisoners. Although he didn't have final numbers at the time of the interview, Block said he expects 2012 to continue that trend of increases.
Looking forward, Block said he's optimistic that the numbers will begin to level off but cautioned another huge growth spurt could change things dramatically.
"I think things have tapered off somewhat. I think we are going to continue to see growth, but I don't think we are going to see growth at the rate we have over the last four years. Now, if we do, clearly we have to go back into the planning stages again."
When looking at particular areas of concern, Block said drugs remains a major concern for them. Impaired driving is also another issue.
"Drugs is one of the biggest issues here and continues to be a big issue. There seems to be a never-ending demand in this city, and I just don't know what drives that. I think it's getting larger and larger all the time.
"The impaired driving, in comparison to other communities on a per capita basis, we are way out there."
Block said the EPS will also be placing a special focus on the activities of organized crimes groups who are directly involved in the local drug trade. He estimates there are at least two groups out of B.C. and two out of Edmonton who are affiliated with gangs that have people in Estevan.
"They have the network to get the product they need at this end. We also have a local bike club who have patched over to a known criminal organization and although they haven't caused us a large deal of grief yet, we anticipate that could come down the road. They are certainly in the spotlight. It hasn't been a huge issue yet but, there is that mentality that comes with it and then people are intimidated even if there isn't anything happening and there is that fear of the unknown."
To combat these groups operating in the city, Block said the EPS will continue to work with the RCMP. They are also in talks with the provincial government about the issue.
"We consider the RCMP to be a huge partner of the Estevan Police Service. We are hoping to have a combined forces unit, which would focus on these issues, especially the organized crime and the drugs. It's a work in progress right now. What the final product will look like, if any, we don't know but we are hoping we will have a combined forces unit with our members and the RCMP at some point in the near future. They have them in other cities and they are working very well. They are very successful, and I think we have come to the point where we absolutely need it here. We continue to work on it and take those that we can, but we do not have the resources or staff to focus on projects."
Despite the increase in crime statistics and the spectre of the aforementioned groups in the community, Block said Estevan is safe and will remain so over the next few years.
"I still consider Estevan a safe place to live and a great place to raise a family. Do we have some issues that we didn't have five years? Absolutely, and I would never pretend otherwise. But overall we are still a very safe community. We don't have the aggression and the violence that is in some of the larger cities. We don't have the home invasions, and we don't have the large number of break and enters that other communities seem to be having.
"I think you can go anywhere in this city for a walk and feel safe. If you want to find trouble you'll find it, but overall if you are a law abiding person and still want to go to a bar and go for supper go do whatever, there is not an issue."
