The Calgary Police Service has reported a decline in the use of force for the second consecutive year, according to an annual report presented to the Calgary police commission on Wednesday. The report highlights that officers recorded 750 incidents involving force in 2025, marking an eight percent decrease from 2024 and a 14 percent drop below the five-year average.
Chief McLellan Highlights Positive Trend
Police Chief Katie McLellan expressed satisfaction with the downward trend, emphasizing the department's commitment to resolving situations without resorting to force. “We’re trending in the right way,” McLellan said during a press conference following the police commission meeting. “It’s very unfortunate when we have to use force, and sometimes there are tragic circumstances and there’s tragic fallout, but we do our absolute best to ensure that we’re not in those situations.”
Force Used in Rare Instances
According to the report, force was employed in approximately one out of every 788 public interactions, meaning that about 99.87 percent of all recorded interactions between officers and the public did not involve any form of force. McLellan described this statistic as “an incredible number,” attributing it to the negotiating skills of officers and their commitment to resolving situations effectively without unnecessary force.
In 2025, Calgary police recorded more than 590,000 public contacts, a four percent increase from 2024 and a six percent rise from the five-year average. This represents the highest volume of interactions in the six-year period examined by the report.
Variations in Types of Force
Despite the overall decrease in force incidents, the report notes an increase in certain types of force. Notably, police service dog contacts rose by over 26 percent, from 49 incidents in 2024 to 62 in 2025. Conversely, incidents involving officers pointing firearms dropped by more than 30 percent, from 23 to 16.
The report attributes the overall decline in use of force to several enforcement initiatives, including Operation Order and the Safer Calgary campaign. These efforts have led to arrests and a reduction in additional calls for service related to social disorder and crime.
Context of Legal Challenges
The release of the report comes as the Calgary Police Service faces legal action over its response to a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Calgary campus in May 2024. Nine plaintiffs, who claim they were injured during the police response, have launched a lawsuit alleging that their Charter rights were violated when officers in riot gear used batons, pepper spray, and stun grenades to clear a green space in front of the MacEwan Student Centre. The statement of claim names several police officers and former police chief Mark Neufeld as defendants, alleging excessive use of force against a peaceful protest.
