SFPS Deputy Chief Chris Kettyle
Assaults against Smiths Falls Police are increasing.
Deputy Chief Chris Kettyle says as a whole, aggressive-in-nature calls they’re attending are increasing, and it’s spilling over onto officers.
In June, police saw 16 intimate partner violence cases, up from 13 in May, as well as 12 family disputes (3 in May) and 10 mischief cases (7 in May).
Kettyle said they saw eight assault on police charges in June and two resist arrest. He noted some incidents represent more than one charge.
In one instance, officers were spit on and had urine-soaked toilet paper thrown at them while removing a subject from cells into the custody of prisoner transport unit officers.
In another, one member was kicked in the chest and genitals by a teen who was destroying their family home.
Kettyle feels their officers deserve some recognition for the work they do with police assaults on the rise.
The calls for service report, which is presented at the monthly police board meetings, comes at a time when there’s higher tension between the service and residents, with some angry over an arrest last month which continues to be investigated, though the officers involved have been cleared to work following an internal review.
Story by Grant Deme