The Dryden Police Service continues to see a huge spike in call numbers.
Police received 8,369 calls for service last year, up from 7,921 in 2018 and 7.083 in 2017.
Chief Doug Palson says illicit drugs and the drug trade are a huge factor behind the increase.
“Methamphetamine appears to be, unfortunately, the drug of choice. It effects people in various different ways and we are seeing a lot of people that we are encountering are very unpredictable as a result of their use of Methamphetamine. But more and more opioids are surfacing in the City.
Palson notes people struggling with social dysfunction and mental health and addictions make up about 90% of their call volumes.
Palson says “Folks have addiction problems and that leads to challenges in their lives which ultimately, unfortunately, could lead to certain amount of criminal activity.”
He adds the number of criminal activity is significantly increasing as a result.
-Theft of motor vehicle: 12 in 2018. 24 in 2019
-Break and enter: 64 in 2018. 75 in 2019
-Theft Under $5,000: 134 in 2018. 189 in 2019
-Fraud: 72 in 2018. 104 in 2019
-Disturb the Peace: 52 in 2018. 69 in 2019
-Liquor Licence Act: 379 in 2018. 473 in 2019
-Trouble with Youth: 75 in 2018. 93 in 2019
-Suspicious Person: 267 in 2018. 361 in 2019
The Dryden Police Service says the street value of drugs seized in 2019 amounts to:
-Opiates: $5,585
-Cash: $19,040
-Cocaine: $70,260
-Methamphetamine: $117,220
