Mike Petch

Every Calgarian should be concerned about the number of child abuse cases currently under investigation in our city. I spoke to the Calgary Police Commission last month about how these files are among the most complex, traumatic, and resource‑intensive cases we handle. Each case represents not just a criminal act, but a profound breach of trust and safety for our most vulnerable citizens. The toll these investigations take is significant. It impacts our officers, our civilian specialists, our support teams and of course, the families who rely on us for justice and protection. The emotional weight of these cases is real and it is carried quietly but relentlessly by the people who work them. In this case, that's 15 detectives who are currently assigned to the Child Abuse Unit, with nine spots currently vacant. Alongside our partners at Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, those detectives are assigned, on average, 45 files a month. That's 45 of our youngest and most vulnerable being victimized each month. It's also happening online. Our Internet Child Exploitation team tackles this issue every day. Nearly 700 files have already come into this team. That's just for Southern Alberta, and we're not even in April yet. This is indefensible. In addition to these deeply concerning trends, we're also seeing the growing impact of human trafficking in our city; an issue that is often hidden in plain sight. Human trafficking is not confined to major urban centres elsewhere. It's happening right here in Calgary, affecting both adults and youth who are coerced, exploited and stripped of their safety and dignity. Our Counter Exploitation Team continues to uncover cases where vulnerable individuals are being manipulated through violence, addiction, financial control and online recruitment. These investigations are complex, dangerous and urgently require the specialized resources necessary to identify victims early, support them safely and hold traffickers accountable. This is not just a policing issue; it's a human rights issue, and one that demands sustained investment and collaboration across our entire community.