Estevan Police Service Chief Jamie Blunden presented the city’s March 2025 crime statistics at the latest Board of Police Commissioners meeting, highlighting a rise in assaults but an overall decline in year-to-date crimes and improved property crime numbers compared to last March.
“When we look at March of this year’s crimes against persons, we’re up compared to last year — from 12 total violations in March 2024 to 20 this March,” said Blunden. “The biggest driver of that increase is assaults. This March, we had 16 assault files.”
Despite that spike, total year-to-date crimes against persons have dropped. “We’re down slightly, about eight per cent — from 39 last year to 36 so far in 2025,” he said.
The assault files included several domestic-related incidents, two student-on-student incidents at Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS), and one at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“It’s not one individual area we have to concentrate on — it’s been all over the place,” Blunden said.
He added that property crime is moving in a positive direction. “We’re happy with that. In March of this year, we had 31 total property violations compared to 40 last year,” he said. “Year to date, we’re at 79 violations compared to 107 in 2024.”
Compared to the five-year average, property crime is still slightly elevated. “We’re about 11 per cent higher. The five-year average is 71, and we’re sitting at 79,” Blunden noted, pointing to thefts under $5,000 — particularly shoplifting — as a major driver. “We’re at 49 of those, compared to a five-year average of 33.6. That’s a 45 per cent uptick.”
He also addressed the upcoming computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records system, which has been delayed until fall. “The good part about that is the financial obligation is also delayed, so that’s OK,” he said.
Blunden added that seasonal crime trends are expected, with thefts from vehicles and thefts of property expected to rise during the summer months. He emphasized the importance of locking sheds and vehicles.
Finally, Blunden confirmed the department’s budget is in a healthy position. “We’re doing very good — no worries there. Our spending is at 20.26 per cent year to date, below our Q1 target of 25 per cent,” he said.