Firearm-related violent incidents in Prince Albert rose sharply in 2025, with police reporting more than double the number of cases compared to the previous year.
Data presented to the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners shows firearm related violent incidents increased from 53 in 2024 to 118 in 2025, with the frequency rising from about one incident per week to roughly two and a half incidents per week.
Chief Patrick Nogier said the increase is one of the most concerning trends police are tracking, particularly because of the risk to victims and the potential for serious injury or death.
“When you have trigger pull incidents in your community, that number can rise very quickly,” Nogier said. “We were fortunate that it did not translate into a much higher number of homicides, but it easily could have.”
Police reported the number of victims involved in firearm-related incidents more than doubled, rising from 13 in 2024 to 29 in 2025.
Nogier said another key issue identified in the data is the number of suspects who were already on bail at the time of their arrest.
“In 2025, the number of suspects who were on bail when they were charged in a firearm related violent incident increased from six to 19,” he said. “That is something we pay close attention to as an organization.”
He said police have gathered enough data to show repeat offenders are playing a significant role in violent crime trends.
“We do have empirical evidence to suggest that individuals who are on bail or under conditions are continuing to commit crime in our community.” Nogier said.
Commission members raised concerns about what the figures mean for public safety and accountability within the justice system.
Coun. Tony Head said the data reflects what residents are already expressing in the community.
“People talk about bail and repeat offenders all the time,” Head said. “This report gives us the evidence to support those concerns.”
The concerns raised locally mirror broader calls for bail reform across Saskatchewan. In July, the provincial government and mayors from the Battlefords pressed Ottawa for stronger bail laws, arguing repeat violent offenders and drug-related crime were putting communities at risk.
Nogier said many of the suspects charged in firearm-related incidents also had prior histories involving violence or weapons.
He said the information will be used to support discussions with the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ministry of Justice.
“This allows us to stay vocal when it comes to bail violations and repeat offending,” Nogier said. “We need to make sure we are using data to guide those conversations.”
The latest figures build on concerns police have raised previously about workload and repeat offending. In funding announcement last year, Nogier said Prince Albert officers were handling high volumes of trauma and violence related files, many involving the same individuals cycling through the system.
Police say the trend is consistent with what is being seen across Saskatchewan and other parts of Canada, particularly in larger urban centres.
Nogier said Prince Albert Police Service will continue to refine its firearms analysis and reporting in 2026 to better understand how offenders move through the system and how enforcement strategies can be improved.
“Our goal is to track these trends accurately and use that information to prevent future incidents,” he said.
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
