The Edmonton Police Commissioner explores security solutions with building owners and managers
A group of Edmonton building owners and managers raised public safety concerns with the Edmonton Police Chief on Tuesday afternoon.
Hosted by Edmonton’s Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the presentation allowed affected Edmonton residents to hear from police about what is being done to address safety and social disruption concerns.
“The greatest threat that has faced our industry since the pandemic has been public safety,” BOMA CEO Lisa Baroldi said at the open discussion at the Chateau Lacombe Hotel.
According to BOMA, building owners incur costs associated with security, cleaning and repair services.
Baroldi and Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee discussed the increased safety rates and outlined what EPS is doing to address the concerns.
“I believe in enforcement and holding people accountable. We let people run around and beat people up, crush people, stab people. It’s not OK. These people need to be rehabilitated in the justice system,” McFee said.
McFee also told attendees that the city’s problems of social disorder, homelessness and addiction have no single solution and rather require a combination of mental health and addiction support and legal consequences.
“Unfortunately, some people use fentanyl. You can see that these are really extreme body positions bent forward. They don’t commit a crime, but they have an addiction problem. We need somewhere to take that person…where actually give them some breathing space,” McFee added.
For some participants, extra boots on the ground and police visibility were what they felt was most effective in preventing crime and disorder on their property.
Between October 1, 2021 and October 31, 2022, police said they received 5,525 emergency calls related to violent crime, property crime and social unrest.
In early February, Edmonton’s Public Safety and Community Response Task Force announced a four-month pilot to move 12 sheriffs throughout downtown.
As part of the pilot, sheriffs would work alongside on-site police officers.
McFee also said companies should consider expanding their CCTV coverage to help police investigate crimes.
