Mayor Says City Hall Reporting Petty Crimes As Per Policy

City Hall is reporting crimes to the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) as policy dictates so says the Mayor.

The statement came after MJ Independent asked Mayor James Murdock about the police requesting citizens to report petty crimes and the City not reporting petty crimes themselves.

“City Hall has not received any reports of unreported criminal activity to date. Employees are required to report any suspected incidents in accordance with City policy,” Mayor Murdock said in an emailed statement.

A vandalized parking meter - MJ Independent file photo

In a Freedom of Information (FOI) request MJ Independent found the City had been victimized by hundreds of incidents of petty crimes over a five year period.

Vandalism to parking meters was the most reported petty crime committed against the city with 479 incidents regarding parking meters in the five year period.

Graffiti was the second most prevalent problem with 334 incidents against city property in the five year property.

Crimes committed against city green spaces totalled 149 incidents.

City owned signage was targeted 21 times in a five year period.

During the media scrum at the most recent Board of Moose Jaw police Commissioners meeting MJPS Chief of Police Robert Davis requested citizens to help report petty crimes if they could do so safely.

The MJPS has taken to social media recently to catch people vandalizing parking meters and for graffiti offences.

Two of the social media focused vandalism incidents to parking meters took place in broad daylight.

One of the alleged meter beaters was already charged in an initial meter vandalism incident when charged for the second incident featured on social media.

Community advocates have told MJ Independent Chief Robert Davis is committed to enforcing the laws when it comes to all crimes - including petty.

Crimes, especially petty crimes, in the downtown core has been a concern raised by citizen groups like the Good Neighbours Group in the past.

MJ Independent made the initial FOI request after a confidential source within the City asked us to take a careful look at it.