Residents dialed up the Lacombe Police Service (LPS) more than 7,000 times last year, an 18 per cent increase from the year before, according to an annual report delivered to city council Monday night by Chief Lorne Blumhagen.

Over the last five years, the number of calls for service averaged just under 6,000 per year.

According to the police chief, it was a “positive” year, which was LPS’ first full one in its new headquarters — and with it, local dispatch.

“Prior to that happening, we received a number of citizen complaints about lengthy wait times on the phone, that they were frustrated with having to wait on the phone for their calls or complaints to be heard,” Blumhagen said.

“We have seen lengthy call delays coming down into seconds for that call to be answered, and within minutes we have members (on) location of an ongoing or major incident.”

Last year, property crimes (22 per cent), persons crimes (30 per cent) and family disputes (11 per cent) were all down.

However, there were more cases of break and enters (23 per cent), drug charges (18 per cent) and impaired driving (24 per cent).

Regarding the latter two, Blumhagen said increases were the result of more police enforcement, through methods like checkstops and traffic stops.

“It doesn’t mean those guilty parties weren’t out there before, it’s just that we’re out there catching them on a more regular basis,” he said.

There was a big jump — 247 per cent — in frauds, which Blumhagen attributed largely to internet and phone scams being reported to police.

Of 215 cases last year, there were about two to three victims, he told council.

Crime stats from Lacombe Police Service's 2017 Annual Report

Three quarters of the police’s $4.2 million budget is supported by taxes.

During the meeting, Blumhagen was also asked about possibly using photo radar as a revenue generator. Fine revenue makes up nine per cent of LPS revenue.

His response was that all methods of enforcement must have public safety in mind.

“Whether that is photo radar, traffic light cameras or boots on the street … that is in the interest of public safety,” he said again afterward. “And we do not conduct enforcement initiatives for revenue purposes.”

He added that traffic safety can be addressed in other ways such as signage, lane markings, public awareness and infrastructure design.

In 2017, there were 222 reported collisions in the city, with 23 resulting in injuries. However, there were no deaths.