A comprehensive report from St. Thomas Police Chief Marc Roskamp on public safety is included on the agenda for Monday’s (Aug. 10) city council meeting.We sat down with the chief last week for a lengthy discussion on the report and related matters, including Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act.
More on that later in this post.
Roskamp’s report to council was initially presented to the Police Services Board last month and addressed the 2025 Crime Severity Index values as reported by Statistics Canada.
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) is a measure of police-reported crime that considers both the volume and relative seriousness of criminal offences. Unlike a traditional crime rate, which counts all offences equally, the CSI assigns greater weight to more serious offences based on sentencing patterns established through Canada’s criminal justice system.
The CSI is separated into three primary measures:
• Overall Crime Severity Index
• Violent Crime Severity Index, and
• Non-Violent Crime Severity Index
Roskamp noted, “These measures assist police services, Police Services Boards, municipalities and communities in understanding whether reported crime is becoming more or less serious over time.”
However, he cautions, “The CSI should not be viewed in isolation. It must be considered alongside calls for service, victimization, repeat offending, community disorder, intimate partner violence, population growth, operational demands and other indicators of community safety and organizational risk.”
Backtracking to 2024, that year “Presented unprecedented operational pressures for the St. Thomas Police Service,” stressed Roskamp.
“The organization experienced increased calls for service, greater incident complexity and a significant increase in violent crime severity. The Violent Crime Severity Index increased from 70.7 in 2023 to 80.6 in 2024. That increase required an immediate and coordinated response.”
Roskamp continued, “Through strong investments made by the St. Thomas Police Services Board and St. Thomas city council, the police service was able to strengthen frontline capacity, enhance specialized enforcement, expand intelligence-led policing and resource key areas of organizational and community risk.
“As a result, the 2025 CSI values demonstrate that these investments, together with the sustained efforts of our members and community partners, are producing measurable results”
“This sustained reduction reflects continued progress in addressing property crime, criminal activity associated with social disorder and other non-violent offences affecting residents, businesses and public spaces.”
Delving into the report, St. Thomas recorded an Overall Crime Severity Index of 61.6 in 2025, representing a 6.1 per cent reduction from 2024 and a 10.1 per cent reduction since 2023.
Roskamp stressed, “The city’s overall CSI remains considerably lower than several of the comparative Ontario communities included in this report.”
The Non-Violent Crime Severity Index remained stable at 60.1 in 2025 and has declined by 11.9 per cent since 2023.
Roskamp pointed out that “This sustained reduction reflects continued progress in addressing property crime, criminal activity associated with social disorder and other non-violent offences affecting residents, businesses and public spaces.”
Most significantly, the Violent Crime Severity Index declined from 80.6 in 2024 to 66.6 in 2025. This represents a substantial year-over-year reduction of 17.4 per cent, Roskamp noted.
“The 2025 CSI results are positive. They demonstrate that St. Thomas is a safe city and that the collective efforts of the Police Services Board, city council, police service members and community partners are producing measurable results.”
He continued, “The elevated Violent CSI experienced in 2024 was a serious organizational and community concern. It required deliberate action, increased operational capacity and sustained attention to high-risk individuals, harm locations and behaviours.
“The investments made by the Police Services Board and city council provided the police service with the capacity to resource these priority areas more effectively.
“These investments supported increased frontline capacity, targeted enforcement, intelligence-led deployment, enhanced investigative capabilities and improved coordination across the organization.
“The reduction in violent crime severity cannot be attributed to one program, unit or enforcement initiative alone. It reflects the collective work of frontline officers, communicators, investigators, Supervisors, analysts, special constables, civilian members and the experience of the Executive Leadership Team, supported by our municipal, health, social service and community partners.”
Roskamp concluded, “The 2025 CSI results are positive. They demonstrate that St. Thomas is a safe city and that the collective efforts of the Police Services Board, city council, police service members and community partners are producing measurable results.
“Our responsibility now is to build on that progress. The police service will continue to assess risk, respond to emerging pressures and bring forward responsible budget recommendations that support community safety, organizational readiness and the long-term wellbeing of St. Thomas.”
With 2027 budget deliberations looming, Roskamp indicated the 2025 CSI results will form part of the evidence base for developing the upcoming operational budget.
He indicated that the budget will not be built on CSI data alone. It will be informed by a broader range of operational, organizational and community safety indicators, including:
• violent and non-violent recidivism;
• intimate partner violence;
• community disorder and calls for service;
• high-risk and prolific offending;
• crime trends and geographic concentrations;
• investigative and frontline workload;
• population and municipal growth;
• member wellness and organizational resilience;
• provincial legislative and regulatory obligations; and
• the availability and sustainability of provincial grant funding.
So, the outlook for the 2027 St. Thomas Police Service operational budget, forecasted Roskamp, “Will reduce last year’s 22 per cent increase in half, because of the good work and the resources.
“We’re starting to find the formula that’s working.”
Shifting the conversation to Bill C-14, the legislation reforms Canada’s bail and sentencing laws, including changes to reverse-onus provisions, bail conditions, sentencing factors, and restrictions on house arrest, to increase public safety.
The bill received Royal Assent on June 15, officially passing into law. The majority of the changes and stricter measures officially come into force on July 15.
Roskamp testified before the Justice Committee last fall, at the invitation of Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton.He stressed to the committee that “The core issue is this: our communities are increasingly and consistently being harmed by individuals who are repeatedly released into the public while facing serious charges, only to reoffend, often violently, while on bail.”
He continued, “Pretrial recidivism and chronic criminality are not abstract concepts. They are daily realities for frontline officers, for victims and for communities who are, quite frankly, begging police services for relief from violence and disorder.”
In our most recent conversation, Roskamp was adamant that, “Public safety is the foundation of every healthy community. Our residents expect that violent, repeat offenders will be dealt with firmly and fairly.
“If these reforms help to hold offenders accountable and reduce victimization, then they will represent meaningful progress for a safe community.”
He is encouraged that 39-year-old James Alexander Brown of St. Thomas, who was charged with attempted murder in a case of domestic violence at a Talbot Street apartment on May 16, 2023, last month was designated a Dangerous Offender in court.In most cases, the Dangerous Offender designation results in an indeterminate sentence, meaning there is no predetermined release date.
Continuing with his analysis of Bill C-14, Roskamp noted that the revisions are an important step because “Public safety is the foundation of every healthy community. Our residents expect that violent, repeat offenders will be dealt with firmly and fairly. If these reforms help to hold offenders accountable and reduce victimization, then they will represent meaningful progress for a safe community.”
Roskamp stressed, “But no single piece of legislation will solve every challenge within the criminal justice system.
“Success will ultimately be measured by whether our community experiences fewer repeat violent offences, fewer victims, and greater public confidence in the administration of justice.”
From an accountability lens, Roskamp pointed out that “Every citizen deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood. Every police officer deserves to know that when we arrest a repeat violent offender, the justice system has the appropriate tools to properly assess the risk that the individual poses to the public.”
From the repeat offender lens, Roskamp noted that, “A relatively small number of prolific offenders are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime and victimization. If these reforms reduce repeat offending and interrupt that cycle of violence, our community will benefit.”
Roskamp concluded that for victims, “Justice isn’t simply about an arrest. It’s about confidence that the entire justice system, from arrest through sentencing, is working to protect them.”
Related post:
SIGNING OFF ON SIGNS
An item on the agenda for this coming Tuesday’s Central Elgin council meeting caused an immediate stir.
It was a motion by Mayor Andrew Sloan to restrict election signs. They would not be allowed to be displayed in public in the municipality until the nomination period for the upcoming municipal election closes on Aug. 21.
This is in spite of the fact that many have sprouted on lawns across the municipality.
It prompted mayoral candidate Morgaine Griffin to post the following on her website.
“I hope the mayor has read the decision in Armstrong v. Township of Russell last year. In that case, the Ontario Superior Court found that the township had unjustifiably restricted residents’ freedom of political expression.
“The judge also questioned whether municipalities should be restricting the aesthetics of election signs when similar aesthetic standards weren’t applied to other types of signs. Municipalities don’t regulate whether your home has too much nautical décor or whether your car is the “wrong” colour. People are allowed to express themselves.”Griffin continued, “The motion also refers to preventing ‘voter fatigue.’ I see that very differently. Elections should be something we’re excited about. They’re an opportunity to choose the direction of our community.
“When someone puts a sign on their lawn, they’re saying they’ve found a candidate they believe in and are willing to publicly support that choice.
“After last election, many of us were concerned about low voter turnout. A healthy democracy depends on engaged residents. To me, visible civic engagement is something to celebrate, not discourage.
“I also want to address the awkward timing. This motion is being introduced more than three months after nominations began and after everyone has been operating under the existing rules throughout the campaign.
“I also want to address the awkward timing. This motion is being introduced more than three months after nominations began and after everyone has been operating under the existing rules throughout the campaign.
“If council wished to change the rules for this election, that discussion could have taken place before May 1, or it could have waited until after this election.
“Some residents have asked if they’ll have to take down signs that are already on their property. My understanding is that, if council supports this motion, staff still need to bring forward amendments to the election sign bylaw for consideration before any change could take effect.
“Some residents have asked if they’ll have to take down signs that are already on their property. My understanding is that, if council supports this motion, staff still need to bring forward amendments to the election sign bylaw for consideration before any change could take effect.
“Based on that process, I don’t expect residents would be asked to remove signs during that 10-day period unless council suspends our usual procedures.”
“To have it up for six months, I don’t think is best for anyone. I don’t think it’s best for democracy. And I don’t think it’s best for the constituents that have to look at these signs for six months.”
As it turns out, Sloan’s motion has been withdrawn and so we contacted him Friday (Aug. 7) for clarification.
He indicated it was a miscommunication with staff and that the motion was mistakenly included in Tuesday’s agenda.
Sloan advised, “I’m going to bring the motion back after the election. So first of all, it’s for the 2030 (municipal vote), not for 2026.”
He continued, “The election campaign in Canada is between 37 and a maximum of 51 days. So it’s not fair, in my mind, for two reasons. One, to have these signs out for six months before an election is nonsense, and the number of jurisdictions that don’t allow it outnumbers the number of jurisdictions that do.
“And secondly, if I can put my name in right up to August 21, that’s the date when the sign should be legal. Because at that point, it’s an even playing field.
“To have it up for six months, I don’t think is best for anyone. I don’t think it’s best for democracy. And I don’t think it’s best for the constituents that have to look at these signs for six months.”
To play devil’s advocate, we asked Sloan whether his motion would be a disadvantage to newcomers who need the name recognition incumbents enjoy.
Sloan replied, “Well, I think there’s other ways they can get their name out and back to the maximum of 51 days for a general election. How does the incumbent have an advantage over someone that’s never run? I don’t see it.
“I just think at the end of the day, we’re in for four years and to have one eighth of that term with people having signs on their lawn, I don’t think achieves what it’s supposed to do.”
Crisis averted as the motion has been withdrawn, no doubt to the relief of new candidates who chose to file their nomination papers early to make themselves known to voters.
CANDIDATE PROFILE: AIDAN FREDERICK, CITY OF ST. THOMAS
We continue with our profiles of the candidates running in the Oct. 26 municipal vote.
This week, we profile Aidan Frederick, who is a mayoral candidate in St. Thomas.
When approached as to why he is running for mayor of St. Thomas, Frederick – a junior staff accountant at Graham Scott Enns in St. Thomas – doesn’t mince his words.
“St. Thomas is where I’m from, and it’s a place that I care about deeply. I’m running for mayor to help ensure that as we grow, we do so in a way that strengthens our neighbourhoods, creates local opportunity, and keeps St. Thomas the community that we love.”
We sat down with Frederick back in June, shortly after he filed his nomination papers at city hall, to get acquainted with the mayoral hopeful. And while he is the first in his immediate family to seek political office, there is an interesting connection to public office.His aunt is former city councillor Tara McCaulley, who, earlier this summer, was named executive director of the Elgin Business Resource Centre in St. Thomas.
“Everyone that I’ve talked to in my family and larger circle has been quite supportive of my decision. Everyone seems excited to see a younger person interested in politics.
“And we need direction and leadership that sets us on the path to success for the future. And I think I can bring that to the mayoral position.”
Frederick has a degree in software engineering from Western University but transitioned into accounting.
“I think that’s an approach that I could bring to the table as the mayor of St. Thomas, finding those efficiencies or deficiencies in the system and how we can streamline things to make the city operate better for its residents.”
The 27-year-old Frederick said he has thought long and hard about running for mayor
“I felt there were two different strategies or approaches that I could take. And I ultimately decided on mayor because I care a lot about the city. And the opportunity for impact is much larger than being one of eight city councillors.
“And if you think back even to 2022 and 2023, it is such a short time span from when they announced the PowerCo plant to now there are shovels in the ground. The question is what’s going to change next and how can we keep up with that growth? And I think I can bring an energy that is youthful and able to keep up.”
Future growth is a key plank in Frederick’s platform.
For Frederick, the future would see a re-link to close the gap in the former London & Port Stanley rail line north of Talbot Street and the creation of an integrated transportation network.
Part of that being improved public transit.
“To provide an option for people who don’t have access to a vehicle. I think it’s beneficial to people who maybe have a disability or are aging and they can’t get around themselves anymore.
“If we’re keeping an eye on the environment and are conscious of that, not having to use your car if you have it. If you worked in South London, you could just take the bus up there.
“I just think we can do better.”
“I want to build a St. Thomas into the future that is connected, livable, and safe for the people who live here.”
Another priority for Frederick is a diversified housing supply.
“I think a big part of that is what we’re able to offer. So if we are only offering apartments for rent or we’re only offering single-family homes for sale, there’s this whole array of options in between that we just don’t have, or we do have, but there are so few of them that you can’t get into it.”
Frederick referenced the residential development immediately south of Memorial Arena, which will see as many as 2,000 apartment units come on stream.
Much-needed housing with the PowerCo EV battery plant scheduled to begin production in a couple of years.
“In that same vein, it’s going to be up to the next mayor and council to make sure that this project succeeds. So much time and money have been put into it already that if it fails, it would be so disastrous for the city.
“We need to make policies as a city that ensure the success, whether that be expanding electric vehicle charging or incentivizing people to purchase electric vehicles. Now, that’s more on the provincial government and federal government side. But we can support policies that contribute to the success of this plant, which we have put so much effort into.”
Frederick continued, “There are applications for batteries outside of just electric vehicles, and there will continue to be into the future. So I hope to see a move towards more electric vehicles. And at the same time, there will still be uses for the batteries that they produce, even if electric vehicles don’t skyrocket in popularity.”
He would like to see more attention paid to maintaining the city’s assets.
“Like the sidewalks, the roads, the public spaces that the city owns. These are all capital assets on the city’s balance sheet. And they need to be cared for and maintained so that they’re able to be used long into the future.
“You know, my family’s been here for four generations. I’m not planning to go anywhere anytime soon. I have gone to live in the U. S., but there was always something pulling me back.”
“I want to see the city cleaned up, maintained, made to be more appealing to a wider audience overall. Well, a matter of pride. Yeah, like city pride. We care about the streets. We care about the city that we live in. We’re not just letting it become filled with garbage. We actually care about where we live.
“I want to build a St. Thomas into the future that is connected, livable, and safe for the people who live here.”
In addition to social media, door-knocking will be an integral part of Frederick’s campaign.
“ I know that’s an effective technique. Get out to meet people, see what their concerns are, and how I can bring their voice to the city’s politics. And yeah, just getting out and meeting people and seeing what people have to say.
“Because the voters are like a free focus group. They can kind of mold what you need to do, based on listening to what their concerns are and acting on their concerns.
“And you can get that at no cost by door knocking and just saying, hey, what does the city need? When I become mayor, what can I do for you?”
“You know, my family’s been here for four generations. I’m not planning to go anywhere anytime soon. I have gone to live in the U. S., but there was always something pulling me back.”
You can read more about his campaign at http://aidanfrederick.ca
ONE LESS CANDIDATE IN THE RACE
One candidate for a seat on the St. Thomas city on Thursday (Aug. 7) advised he is withdrawing his nomination papers.
Doug Mactavish said this was predicated by personal health issues.
He had originally declared he would run for the mayor’s seat at city hall.
Mactavish was the Liberal candidate in last year’s provincial election, losing out to incumbent Rob Flack.
That leaves a dozen candidates vying for one of the eight councillor seats, with a deadline of Aug. 21 to file nomination papers.
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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.
