Crime Watch patrols a possible solution for downtown concerns
Last week during the October meeting of the Lethbridge Police Commission, there was a presentation by Hunter Heggie and Stephen Mogdan of the Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ).
Mr. Mogdan was very concise and clear about the challenges facing the downtown while Mr. Heggie provided more of a personal journey of what he has observed firsthand as a business leader for over three decades.
The two combined for what was a great presentation that gave an informative overview of the history of downtown Lethbridge. I was struck by the candour in the presentation pointing out the current challenges downtown are not the first time the city centre has faced adversity.
The presentation took us back to the 1990s when downtown was struggling and a group of individuals mobilized to save it. They acknowledged that the downtown was the heart of the city and they stood up to do their part towards revitalization. That group grew and grew and made a difference.
The presentation had been made to the Community Issues Committee (CIC) of City Council prior to the presentation to Commission and I was very impressed to see the large turnout. It was, without a doubt, the most wellattended meeting of the Police Commission that I have seen. There was a clear message to the Commission and Council to support the efforts of the police to increase perceptions of safety downtown. I fully appreciate the support that Mr. Heggie and Mr. Mogdan offered and I want to thank all of the concerned citizens who came out to support the presentation.
There was a definite energy in the
room but it wasn’t anger, hate, vigilantism or anything of that nature. It was quite the opposite. It was a real “we can do this” energy. Prior to the start of the meeting, I had a conversation with a fellow about the location of the Supervised Consumption Site and what the police are experiencing. He let me know that the intention of the group was not to point fingers or lay blame but rather to work together to fix the problems. He said, “there is nothing we can’t do if we all put our minds to it. This city has done it before.”
As I have worked in various locations across the country, I have always been amazed at how effective citizen-policecommunity partnerships have been in their efforts to keep communities safe. Many of these rely on volunteers that genuinely care about their community and wish to make a difference. I have written before about different models of community safety that range from volunteer police auxiliary units, to programs like The Watch operated by the BIZ (Winnipeg’s equivalent of our BRZ) and Neighbourhood Watch — all of which I am a huge fan of because they have been proven to work.
These initiatives are often supported by another layer of safety in the form of Special Constables, Community Safety Officers or Community Peace Officers — the names varying depending on which province one is in. They are a trained, effective and efficient way to support community volunteers.
Recently, I had the privilege of patrolling with the Vancouver Police Service’s Crime Watch that operates from the Granville Community Policing Centre. The program is administered by a civilian employee that liaises with a sworn officer to identify the areas where the Crime Watch patrols. It is deployment based on data — or as we say in the industry — evidence-based or
data-driven decision making.
The volunteers that I met were absolutely amazing. They were from the community, genuine, energetic, compassionate and committed. They were clearly visible as The Crime Watch in their dress and completely understood their role in helping people feel safe in the community. When we set out on our foot patrol we were only a few blocks into the shift when a local citizen that operates a business made a point of approaching us and thanking the volunteers for all that they do.
I introduced myself and let her know that our police service is looking to create a similar type of program. I asked if she thought it made a difference in the community. “Absolutely” was the response. She shared a few examples of the high visibility of the volunteers and how it helped businesses and patrons feel safe and secure. We later walked through a park where small children were playing and along with their parents instantly recognized the volunteers, gave waves and said hello. One 20-something male had his dog off
leash and one of the volunteers politely reminded him that dogs are to be leashed in that area and to consider the children.
The volunteers have no police authorities but they receive training on what their purpose is, they know the community, they have common sense and the ability to speak with people. If they need the police, the Special Constables or City Bylaw officers, they call. What makes them tick is the energy and passion of the civilian manager, the liaison officer and the many volunteers.
I witnessed that same energy at the Commission meeting last Wednesday. Should we be successful in our request for a new initiative that emulates the volunteer programs in Winnipeg and Vancouver, I encourage and look forward to some of the same people that were in the audience and others in the community channelling their energy to efforts that will make the city safer. As the gentlemen at the meeting told me, “there is nothing we can’t do if we all put our minds to it. This city has done it before.”