“We want to target the areas worst affected by crime, those with consistent calls for service and higher than normal crime trends, and make a lasting impact,” says Acting Staff Sgt. Roger Bellerose with EPS West Division. “We’ll be striving to address crime and disorder in the short term, and to build the necessary mechanisms with the business owners and residents in the community to reduce these issues in the future.”
For the deployment, increased police resources will target all criminal activity in and around the motels/hotels, bars, commercial businesses, industrial areas, and surrounding residential neighbourhoods. Highly visible EPS units will patrol identified hot spot locations for suspicious activities, the EPS Specialized Traffic Apprehension Teams (STAT) will increase traffic enforcement along roadways and parking lots, and volunteers will educate residents and visitors about crimes in the area. Various social agencies will also assist in connecting vulnerable persons with needed services.
The Edmonton Police Service will be conducting the deployment in partnership with: the City of Edmonton, the Public Safety Compliance Team, REACH Edmonton, the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), Bent Arrow, Metis Child and Family Services, Crime Stoppers, the Community Police Radio Network (CPRN), and the RCMP.
Members of the public are invited to come out and speak with officers about their particular crime problems and to receive crime prevention brochures at the EPS Mobile Action Centre that will be set up for the CAT deployment. The EPS Aboriginal Relations Unit (with EPS Tipi) and the EPS Canine Unit will be attending and sharing their interesting work and educational materials with the public. There will also be a free community barbecue with refreshments and free coffee courtesy of Tim Horton’s. Everyone is welcome.
- Aug. 6 and 7, 2014, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Jiffy Lube Parking Lot, 15355 - 111 Avenue
The EPS Aboriginal Relations Unit and EPS Canine Unit will participate at this location on Aug. 6 - Aug. 8 and 9, 2014, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Save-on-Foods Parking Lot, 360 Mayfield Common
The EPS Aboriginal Relations Unit and EPS Canine Unit will participate at this location on Aug. 8
The monthly CAT deployments are part of the EPS Violence Reduction Strategy and have been successful in addressing a wide range of criminal and social issues. For more information about the Violence Reduction Strategy, please visit www.edmontonpolice.ca/vrs.