The City of Calgary says it is aiming to address downtown safety concerns by setting up a new front-counter police operation in the city’s core.
In an announcement Monday, Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Calgary Police Service (CPS) deputy chief Raj Gill said the District 1 Ramsay location is now closed and its front-counter operations will continue at the new office along 6 Avenue SW near Centre Street.
“This centralized location is going to enable partner agencies to leverage each other’s expertise and provide the best possible service to Calgarians and businesses in the area,” said Gondek.
The Stephen Avenue Safety Hub, which was available for the public to access for non-emergency police matters, will also move to the new CPS Community Counter and Downtown Safety Hub location.
The new centre will allow the public to report non-emergency police matters like non-injury collisions or lost property. Officers will be available to speak with members of the public who are looking for general information or guidance.
“This front counter puts on-duty police officers in an accessible, static location to be available to speak to anyone who needs help or seeks advice,” says Gill.
The $250,000 investment from the city, and an additional $50,000 from CPS, will aim to provide more staffing space, more cubicles and more convenience and safety for the down community.
“More importantly is the visibility,” says Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong. “More presence on the streets, whether it be our police, our bylaw or security, or people looking out for our vulnerable population, as well as our citizens and our businesses.”
Operations at the new location will begin on Nov. 12 and will be open to the public Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.