Windsor's police chief credits strong community partnerships for the city's low murder rate.
Statistics Canada released information about homicides across the country this week and while the national rate is only 1.44 for every 100,000 residents, Windsor's rate is even lower at 0.61. Windsor had two murders last year compared to three the previous year.
Chief Al Frederick credits good community partnerships. "Our front line staff, each and every day engage with the community. We have built a trusting relationship," he says. "We have people very interested in their own safety and in the safety of their neighbours and their communities. We're seeing the dividends of those relationships."
Violent crime may be on the decline, but policing costs continue to rise. Frederick defends the amount Windsor spends on policing. "First of all it is because of the efforts of the community and the police that have lowered those rates," he insists. "More importantly crime response and our officers responding to crime is only about 20% of our calls for service." Frederick says an increasing amount of resources is going to calls related to mental health issues.
Regina had the highest homicide rate in the county with 3.84 for every 100,000 residents last year. Moncton and Guelph didn't have any murders in either 2013 or 2012.