Saskatoon police chief discusses why spending soars as crime drops

Chief Cam McBride acknowledges crime has declined even as spending on police will rise to one-quarter of the city’s budget next year.

McBride said in a year-end interview with CBC that the volume of calls to police continues to rise, even though the number of criminal code violations has dropped for the second straight year.

Officers are responding to calls that do not necessarily result in criminal charges and they play more of an “outreach” role for vulnerable people, McBride said.

“We’re seeing increases — significant increases — within the realm of social disorder,” he said. “And that makes sense when you consider how many more people are in our community who have complex needs or are struggling with addiction or, you know, homelessness.”

The overall crime rate in Saskatoon has declined for the second straight year based on police statistics through mid-December that show 33,948 criminal charges this year compared to 34,146 over the same period last year.

However, unlike last year, so-called crimes against the person have also dropped to 4,373 from 4,437 over the same period in 2024.

While the number of assaults bucked that trend by increasing this year over last, the number of homicides thus far has dropped sharply from a near-record 15 last year to just eight so far in 2025. That represents the fewest since 2021, when there were seven.

McBride called this trend “encouraging.”

Decreasing crime did not stop city council from supporting big increases in police spending that pushed the force’s total budget to 25 per cent of all city hall expenditures for the next two years.

McBride said police need to respond to calls that do not always involve criminal activity.

“Sometimes those are violent or potentially violent circumstances, but not always,” he said.

Feeling safe downtown

The city’s annual survey this year showed that of the 398 respondents to the online panel poll conducted over the summer, 82 per cent felt crime in Saskatoon was somewhat or very high. But 58 per cent said they felt somewhat or very safe in the city.

Fewer people who took the survey might regard downtown Saskatoon as safe, but McBride said he’s not among that group, even when he’s not wearing a sidearm and a Taser.

“There’s few things my wife and I enjoy more than walking around downtown Saskatoon or River Landing with a cup of coffee, enjoying everything that the city has to offer,” he said. “And we feel completely safe. But some don’t.”

He said the force is focusing on trying to make people feel safe in addition to trying to ensure they are safe.

Policing perceptions

Looking ahead to next year, McBride said the police service will concentrate on trying to solve its struggles with recruitment.

Social media has turned a lot of people off policing, he admitted.

“There's some really, really hurtful, damaging things that come out in social media and so it absolutely will change or alter how somebody may perceive the profession of policing to be,” McBride said.

But he cited his own perspective after nearly three decades with the Saskatoon Police Service as an example of the variety of experiences on offer.

McBride became the first police chief promoted from within the Saskatoon force in nearly a quarter century last year. He has worked as a drone operator, a forensic officer and an explosive technician.

A smile broke across his face as he recalled riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle on the job.

Police can make a difference in a community, despite perceptions, McBride said.

Also next year, Saskatoon police will begin introducing dedicated officers to try to make bus travel safer — an unusual initiative for a city this size.

“We’re building something brand new, you’re right,” McBride said. “And I think there’s a great opportunity to take the best of what we see in the industry and bring it here.”