Pilot project will see extra security patrolling downtown to help deter ‘unsettling incidents’

The next regular council meeting is TUESDAY, OCT 11.

City hall is partnering with the police on a pilot project to pursue additional security patrols downtown to combat an increase in problematic occurrences in municipal venues and green spaces.

During its recent executive committee meeting, city council voted 6-1 to authorize city administration to conduct a four-week pilot program of enhanced patrols and produce a report with statistics about the program for the 2023 budget deliberations.

Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed.

7KH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ EHFRPHV RI¿FLDO RQFH FRXQFLO approves it as a motion during the next regular meeting.

Project details

The pilot project is similar to the Saskatchewan &RPPXQLW\ 6DIHW\ 2I¿FHU 3URJUDP 6&623 ZKLFK DVVLVWV RI¿FHUV E\ SURYLGLQJ H[WUD XQLIRUPHG SHUVRQQHO LQ D marked vehicle in the community from early evening to early morning.

3LORW SURMHFW GHWDLOV LQFOXGH Commissionaires at existing municipal venues would remain

Hours would be 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., seven days a week, EXW FRXOG EH ÀH[LEOH HQRXJK WR UHVSRQG WR LVVXHV RQ FHUtain days

The police would provide logistical support, training, vehicles and radio equipment

City hall would provide $12,000 for the two extra staff that comes from the existing budget for commissionaires and city manager’s special initiatives budget

The data collected would include the number and type of incidents, whether there are reduced calls for service to police, and whether there are reduced requests for assistance from residents and city staff.

Unsettling incidents

“We’ve had a marked increase in unsettling incidents LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ 3HRSOH DUH IHHOLQJ VRPHZKDW XQVDIH ´ FLW\ PDQDJHU -LP 3XIIDOW VDLG

“We know our staff has been dealing with a number of different issues in facilities and parks that we maintain. :H NQRZ WKH SROLFH DUH DOVR KDYLQJ LVVXHV ZLWK WKH DUHDV WKH\ DUH SDWUROOLQJ ´

3XIIDOW DQG WKH GLUHFWRU RI SDUNV DQG UHFUHDWLRQ UHcently met with the police chief to discuss the incidents. They agreed that there aren’t enough resources on the streets and that the police can’t be everywhere all the time. However, commissionaires could provide extra help because they already monitor public buildings.

The group concluded that a pilot program of enhanced patrols was the best option.

1RUWK %DWWOHIRUG SLORWHG WKH 6&623 LQ where commissionaires took the pressure off police by WDNLQJ RQ H[WUD GXWLHV VDLG 3XIIDOW 7KHVH LQGLYLGXDOV drove around in marked vehicles, acted as deterrents to FULPH QRWL¿HG 5&03 RI LQFLGHQWV DQG HQDEOHG SROLFH WR focus on high-risk crime.

³7KRVH SHRSOH DUH QRW SROLFH RI¿FHUV DQG WKH\ would not engage with high-risk people. It would be surYHLOODQFH DQG SDWUROV « ´ KH FRQWLQXHG ³,I VRPHWKLQJ is occurring and people feel unsafe, the commissionaires ZRXOG KDYH D SURFHGXUH WKDW LV GH¿QHG E\ WKH 0RRVH -DZ 3ROLFH 6HUYLFH RQ KRZ WR PDQDJH WKRVH DIIDLUV ´

He added that the program would likely begin in November because of the four-week delay in training people, the need to acquire police resources and the need for council approval in October.

Council discussion

³,¶YH KHDUG IURP D ORW RI EXVLQHVVSHRSOH DERXW KRZ ZH QHHG WKLV ´ VDLG 0D\RU &OLYH 7ROOH\ ³,¶P IXOO\ VXSportive of this effort to try and see if we can have more presence and deter some of the behaviours that are hapSHQLQJ ´

Coun. Crystal Froese also thought this was a great initiative but wanted the police chief to attend the next council meeting to discuss the training and expectations of the partnership.

Four weeks for a pilot project seemed short to Coun. Heather Eby, while she wasn’t sure if the cold weather would deter problematic behaviours seen in the summer. +RZHYHU VKH WKRXJKW WKLV ZDV D JRRG ¿UVW VWHS DQG KRSHG the commissionaires remained at the library since she didn’t want that location left vulnerable.

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The intent would be to extend the commissionaires’ hours at the library to ensure adequate coverage, said 3XIIDOW 7KH ¿UVW VXSSRUW UHTXHVW FDPH IURP WKH OLEUDU\ because it regularly handles people warming up inside.

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