With summer fast approaching, the Southwest Division CAT Deployment will focus police and community efforts on reducing violence and crime on Whyte Avenue and surrounding neighbourhoods from 99 Street to 109 Street. The primary objectives of the latest CAT will be to:
- Connect vulnerable persons to needed services, such as housing and addiction counselling.
- To educate the public on crime prevention.
- Increase police presence in the Whyte Avenue area to target violent crime and disorder.
Community residents are invited to join EPS members at a barbecue on Thursday, June 12 at McIntyre Park, 8331 104 St. The barbecue will run from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. The REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities will also be attending the barbecue to present crime prevention initiatives. Representatives from Boyle Street Co-Op, Crime Stoppers and the Neighbourhood Centre will also be in attendance.
“Whyte Avenue is one of the hot spots in the city for people to congregate when the weather begins to finally warm up. We want people to enjoy themselves, but within reason. Any sort of drunk and disorderly behaviour on or around the Avenue will not be tolerated,” said EPS Const. Michael Dahl, a member of the EPS Whyte Avenue Beats.
The CAT deployments are highly visible and mobile, and have been successful in quickly addressing a wide range of criminal and social issues.
For more information about the EPS Violence Reduction Strategy, please visit: www.edmontonpolice.ca/vrs