The City of Calgary announced Monday the opening of a new police front counter in the downtown.
In a move to expand access to police services in the city’s core, the new Calgary Police Service centralized safety hub is located at 119 Sixth Ave. S.W. It’s replacing the Stephen Avenue Safety Hub location that was launched just over three years ago.
“Since taking office, I have heard from many different people … one of the mainstays of any of the conversations that I’ve had is this need to have a focus on downtown public safety,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek during Monday’s announcement.
“A recurring message has been delivered by everyone: ‘Why is Calgary the only major city in the nation that does not have a downtown police station?'”
CPS has eight district offices. While the new space isn’t a new district office or full police station, the new location in the Telephone Building offers a front counter where members of the public will be able to report non-emergency police matters or speak with an officer.
It will also provide more storage for CPS equipment, as well as give on-duty officers a spot to file paperwork and maintain a static presence in addition to patrolling the downtown area, according to CPS Deputy Chief Raj Gill.
“The space has been a long time coming,” Gill told reporters during Monday’s news conference.
“This front counter makes it easier for Calgarians to speak with an officer and enhance the visible presence within the downtown.”
The city says the hub is also a space for peace officers and transit officers to communicate with CPS.
The front counter available to the public at the District 1 office in Ramsay closed on Monday to make way for the new downtown hub.
Starting Nov. 12, the new CPS Community Counter and Downtown Safety Hub will be open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Gondek said the new hub will cost the city $250,000 a year, while Gill said it will cost CPS $40,000 annually.
‘Monumental step forward’
Mark Garner, executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association (CDA) called the new hub a “monumental step forward,” adding the former Stephen Avenue location wasn’t providing a much-needed community engagement aspect.
“There’s a little bit of compassion exhaustion amongst our members right now,” said Garner, adding that residents and businesses in Calgary’s downtown feel a need for more access to police resources.
“Still, the CDA is going to be advocating for a full [police] station in the downtown core.”