`Alternative response officers' to patrol downtown, police say
Six alternative response officers (AROS) will begin patrolling downtown this fall, to provide “public safety programming” in cases where an armed officer isn't needed.
Duties will include walking the downtown area to enforce bylaws and provincial legislation, connecting with community partners and performing ceremonial duties, according to a news release from the Regina Police Service (RPS). They will also help with traffic-related events and escorts, transporting people who have been arrested and helping with detention, as well as taking complaints from the public, writing reports, retrieving evidence and guarding “scenes.”
Police say the special constables will “increase the availability of police officers to respond to calls for service,” and while the unit's main focus will be downtown, there is potential for it to expand “as needed.”
“We strongly believe the introduction of the ARO program will be beneficial for both the Regina Police Service and our community,” said RPS deputy chief Lorilee Davies in the release. “Not only will the AROS be able to provide support to our front-line officers, but also help us better respond to the needs of the community.”
Training for the role includes 11 weeks of classroom and on-the-job sessions at RPS headquarters to learn de-escalation techniques, community engagement strategies, defensive tactics, law and cross-cultural competencies, the release noted.
The program is funded through a two-year partnership with the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, which will see an initial $300,000 in funding matched by the RPS to pay for program development and rollout, training and salaries for the first year.