Mental health related calls and thefts are up in downtown New Westminster compared to 2023 – but many crime categories have seen significant decreases since last year.
At its October meeting, the New Westminster police board received a report on statistics of police incidents in the downtown in September. It showed that there were fewer assaults and break and enters from business in September 2024 than the previous September, but there was an increase in assaults with weapon/causing bodily harm and theft from auto.
Here is a look at the New Westminster Police Department statistics about incidents in the downtown in September 2024 and September 2023:
- Assault – common: 11 in September 2024; 21 in September 2023
- Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm: Eight in September 2024; three in September 2023
- Assault – aggravated: Zero in September 2024; one in September 2023
- Robbery: Four in September 2024; six in September 2023
- Break and enter – business: Zero in September 2024; 10 in September 2023
- Break and enter residence: Two in September 2024; two in September 2023
- Theft from auto (over and under $5,000): 20 in September 2024; nine in September 2023
- Theft – other (over and under $5,000): 14 in September 2024; 14 in September 2023
- Mischief – over and under $5,000: 14 in September 2024; 14 in September in September 2023
- Mental Health related: 16 in September 2024; 18 in September 2023
In addition to providing September’s statistics about incidents in the downtown, the NWPD report to the police board also includes year-to-date statistics (January to September) for the past three years. On that front, the police department is reporting decreases in most crime categories when comparing the first nine months of 2024 to 2023:
- Assault – common: Down nine per cent
- Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm: Down 10 per cent
- Assault – aggravated: Down 60 per cent
- Robbery: Down 63 per cent
- Break and enter – business: Down 45 per cent
- Break and enter residence: Down 50 per cent
- Theft from auto (over and under $5,000): Down 20 per cent
- Theft – other (over and under $5,000): Up 18 per cent
- Mischief – over and under $5,000: Down 20 per cent
- Mental Health related: Up four per cent
Along with a report focused on crime statistics in downtown New West, the police board also received its monthly report about overall crime statistics in the city. (Check newwestrecord.com for an upcoming story on those statistics.)
Being an ally
Acting Chief Const. Paul Hyland will do what he can to assist an organization that represents 2SLGBTQ+ members and civilians working in law enforcement.
Out On Patrol, a non-profit peer support organization representing 2SLGBTQ+ members and civilians working in law enforcement, is in the midst of establishing an executive advisory committee. It invited Hyland to join the committee as one of its executive liaison officers (ELO).
In a letter to Hyland, the Out on Patrol Society said its aim is to strengthen the relationship between the law enforcement and 2SLGBTQ+ community, conduct youth outreach and education, as well as offer peer support to its registered members.
“Although we anticipate a minimal time commitment for our ELOs, we believe your insight and expertise will be extremely valuable,” said a letter to Hyland. “This unique opportunity will also demonstrate your commitment to supporting under-represented members of your organization, as well as the broader 2SLGBTQ+ community.”
Hyland said he was pleasantly surprised to be asked to be part of the advisory group.
“I think it's very important work. … I believe they're trying to expand their impact and the work that they're doing,” he told the police board. “I think it's all about being an ally and doing what we can to support the members of this community and how they are part of the bigger policing community. So, happy to do it.”
Meeting changes
The New Westminster police board is looking at changing up its meeting times in an effort to make them more accessible to the public and board members.
At its October Meeting, board member Kelsi Wall questioned if meetings must always be held at 9:30 a.m. or if there is a way to change them to a different time of day, noting it can be disruptive having to take a big chunk of time off work for morning meetings. She said morning meetings have some equity and diversity implications in terms of who is able to be at the board table.
“It certainly was a consideration for me when I was considering whether I could even accept a position,” she said. “So, I just wanted to open the conversation around whether there's any flexibility.”
October’s police board agenda included a draft meeting schedule for 2025, with monthly meetings (aside from spring, summer, and December breaks) scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Board member Mary Trentadue agreed it would be helpful for people interested in doing this work to have more flexible meeting times, even if the board alternated between daytime and evening meetings.
“I do think it's a fair discussion, so that we are a little bit more accessible and there's not barriers for people who have to work in the day, since they can't take that time off,” she said. “I would welcome some kind of alternating timing.”
Board members Heather Boersma and Patrick Lalonde said they would be open to meeting at a different time, including evenings, but would prefer to have a set time, not a rotating schedule.
“I'm open to different times a day,” said Boersma, the board’s vice-chair. “I remember one time we changed the time, and I came running in with my baby because I didn't have childcare at the right time.”
Acting Chief Const. Paul Hyland said the NWPD’s senior management team will work around the board’s preferred meeting times. He noted that the board used to have evening meetings.
“I do know that an evening time would potentially make it easier for members of the public to attend as well, if they were interested in sitting in and participating,” he said. “From a staff perspective, we will make whatever the board wants work.”
Board chair Tasha Henderson said people have already booked their times for 2024 meetings, so she suggested the board try holding evening meetings starting in January 2025.
Following a discussion on possible times for meetings, the board directed staff to incorporate 6 p.m. meeting times for January, February, and April 2025 meetings into next year’s calendar, at which point the meeting times could be reevaluated. The board will consider the revised meeting schedule at its November meeting.
