“This is a coordinated and strategic response to deal with the increased levels of violent crime on Edmonton’s public transit,” says EPS Chief Dale McFee. “The goal is to create safer spaces for all transit users and encourage prosocial behavior within and around Edmonton transit locations.”
EPS will redeploy 18 sworn positions from various units to make up two dedicated transit teams. These teams will supplement the work already done byHealthy Streets Operation Centre, Community Policing Branch Beats and City of Edmonton Community/Transit Peace Officersto provide a coordinated response to safety in transit corridors.
“We recognize that violence on transit has escalated and requires a consistent EPS presence, and our previous staffing approach of using overtime shifts alone is not economical or sustainable. We believe a fulsome strategy to increase public safety in our city’s LRT corridor must include having the right authorities in place to respond at the right time. The addition of another 50 police resources funded by the province will take time but sets us on the right path to ensure we are dealing with violence appropriately and keeping Edmontonians and transit users safe,” states McFee.
The EPS recently completed its 2022 crime analysis, including an overview of crime on transit. Notable statistics include a 31.4% (+680 events) increase in dispatched calls for police service from 2021 to 2022, with violent calls for service up by 52.8% during this time.