Downtown crime on the rise says Windsor's police chief

Windsor's police chief is responding to complaints about crime in the city's downtown core.

Chief Al Frederick saidit's not just a perception; statistics showthe number of thefts this year is already well above the five-year average, with several months to go. Andthe monthly average of property crime in 2018 has increased by nearly 20 per cent.

Frederick said it's been a challenge to address the spike, since police need to attend tomany time-consuming calls.

"For example, and I'll give you a very simple one that happens each and every daywandering seniors with Alzheimer's," said the police chief. "There's never enough resources to find that person quickly for the family, and for that person. Every hour counts in his life."

A call like that could take eight to ten officers about three to four hours to complete, said Frederick.

Downtown task force

The police chief's comments come after some business owners in the downtown area said they'd begin patrolling the streets themselves.

In June, Mayor Drew Dilkenssaid an uptick in crime was the reason he proposed a 12-officer task force which would concentrate on policing the city's core. The $1.4 million initiative was passed by theWindsor Police Services Board of which Dilkens is thechair of.

The mayor said he was disturbed by the surge of violent crimeand crime "relatedto mental health,opioidaddiction,and the things that go along with that."

On Wednesday, Frederick said the force would increase foot patrols and use new technology to address the rash of threats.