2024 saw the most amount of homicide files the Saskatchewan RCMP had to deal with.
In a news release, Sask. RCMP said they investigated 38 homicide files with 40 victims. This was a 27% increase of files 33% more homicide victims compared to 2023.
This past year was also the second highest year on record of homicide victims within the jurisdiction of the Sask. RCMP.
Two of the 2024 homicide files and victims were reported in Saskatchewan RCMP’s North District.
Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes investigated*:
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2020: 30 homicide files with 31 victims
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2021: 31 homicide files with 35 victims
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2022: 33 homicide files with 43 victims (including all victims of the mass casualty)
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2023: 30 homicide files with 30 victims
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2024: 38 homicide files with 40 victims
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2025 to January 27: 2 homicide files with 2 victims
*Note: Saskatchewan RCMP provides response and investigative support to other Saskatchewan police services; these investigations are NOT included in the above totals
As a result of their investigations, Sask. RCMP Major Crimes Teams laid charges against 36 individuals in relation to 2024’s homicide investigations. Of those charged, 25 were male and 11 were female.
At times, Sask. RCMP had to deal with multiple homicide incidents in a matter of days. There were also four instances where RCMP Major Crimes investigators were called to three or more homicide investigations within a seven-day period. These homicide “clusters” involved multiple, unrelated investigations in different locations in the province and occurred in February, August, September and December.
“These clusters especially put significant pressures on frontline RCMP detachments and investigative resources as multiple, specially trained teams are required to deploy immediately to these calls for service,” shares Superintendent Josh Graham, Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes. “Concern for the wellness of our investigators and having the capacity to continue investigating unsolved files – including both recent and historical ones – is significant when our deployment numbers are high.
With homicide rates inside of the province now exceeding the national rate, Sask. RCMP says along with policing, community safety remains a top priority. They said along with their partners they will continue to help advocate for further resources to combat the root causes of crime.