Latest news with #SaferCalgary
Calgary Herald
31-05-2025
- Calgary Herald
Five youths charged after deploying bear spray at bus near Chinook station
Article content Five youths have been charged after bear spray was deployed near a transit bus by Chinook Station. Article content Article content According to a news release, police allege two groups of youths became involved in an altercation at a bus stop near Third Street and 61 Avenue S.W., near the Chinook CTrain station, on Friday, May 23 at 3:40 p.m. Article content As one group attempted to board a bus, members of the group allegedly sprayed bear spray near the open door, affecting the victims, the bus driver and uninvolved passengers on the bus. The group then fled the scene. Article content Article content The suspects were located and arrested within minutes by members of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) and Calgary Transit Public Safety. Article content Article content Three girls aged 14, 15 and 16 and two boys aged 14 and 16 have been charged with four counts each of assault with a weapon. Article content Two girls aged 15 and 16 and one boy aged 14 are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 20. Article content The 14-year-old girl has also been charged with failure to comply with a release order. She is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The 16-year-old boy has also been charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose and one count of failure to comply with a release order. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday, May 30. Article content None of the youths can be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Article content Article content 'Safety on public transit and in public spaces is a top priority for the Calgary Police Service and our Safer Calgary partners,' said Acting Staff Sgt. Derek Klassen. 'As part of Operation Safer Calgary, CERT members have been strategically deployed to these areas to ensure public safety. This proactive deployment allowed for seamless collaboration with our partners at Transit Public Safety and the timely arrest of these suspects. Violence on transit and in public spaces will not be tolerated in our city. We remain committed to holding those who choose to commit these acts of violence accountable for their actions as we work to make Calgary a safer place for everyone.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
1 month in, city says Safer Calgary program has been a success
The City of Calgary says its new safety program is showing promising results, one month after its implementation. The Safer Calgary program launched on Feb. 17 as a joint effort between police, peace officers and community partners to address crime and social disorder such as drug use in public areas. As part of the program, the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Community Engagement Response Teams work with peace officers from Community Safety and Transit Public Safety, as well as community outreach support groups such as Alpha House. Since Safer Calgary began last month, the city reports that more than 230 charges have been laid, 1,464 arrest warrants have been fulfilled and 1,060 tickets have been issued. The city added that 1,151 social agency referrals have been made and there have been more than 1,128 business engagements. "I think the numbers kind of speak for themselves," acting CPS Staff Sgt. Derek Klassen said. "We've been working really closely with our arrest processing section, with the Calgary Courts Centre, community court, just to get people to the right network, right social partners, to actually get them the help that they need." The city is touting the Safer Calgary program as an early success in curbing social disorder issues such as public drug use. (Terri Trembath/CBC News) The safety program was expedited after the province requested increased collaboration between police and community peace officers, the city says. Klassen added that social disorder has been rising since broad public health restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic came to an end, and Safer Calgary is a culmination of efforts from various agencies to respond to that increase. "This program is really working," Klassen said. "When we talk about the stats, when we compare them to years past, I think it's just really making an overall difference in the downtown core, along the transit lines and elsewhere in the city," As police presence increases in some parts of Calgary, Klassen acknowledged that social disorder issues can be displaced into other areas of the city, which CPS is also monitoring. Charlene Wilson, senior director at Alpha House, says Safer Calgary is key to ensuring community safety around the city. "Everybody in Calgary is a community member. Encampments do arise and there is challenges with those pieces," Wilson said. "When folks are unhoused, those resources are even more valuable. Displacement happens and having these collaborations is what reduces that." Acting Staff Sgt. Derek Klassen says Calgary police work closely with other groups such as Alpha House to address social disorder in public spaces. (Terri Trembath/CBC News) She added that Alpha House wants to reduce unnecessary policing when their goal is to build rapport with unhoused people and provide them with shelter. Organizations like Alpha House have worked closely, albeit informally, with Calgary police and peace officers in the past. Wilson said over the years the relationship between their organizations has grown as they've attended to the same calls. "It's a twofold approach. You have the enforcement aspect that sometimes is needed, but there's that social component that is so key," Wilson said. "So when they're working together side by side, they're attending calls with Calgary Transit, we have our help teams directly with them everyday."
CBC
21-03-2025
- CBC
1 month in, city says Safer Calgary program has been a success
The City of Calgary says its new safety program is showing promising results, one month after its implementation. The Safer Calgary program launched on Feb. 17 as a joint effort between police, peace officers and community partners to address crime and social disorder such as drug use in public areas. As part of the program, the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Community Engagement Response Teams work with peace officers from Community Safety and Transit Public Safety, as well as community outreach support groups such as Alpha House. Since Safer Calgary began last month, the city reports that more than 230 charges have been laid, 1,464 arrest warrants have been fulfilled and 1,060 tickets have been issued. The city added that 1,151 social agency referrals have been made and there have been more than 1,128 business engagements. "I think the numbers kind of speak for themselves," acting CPS Staff Sgt. Derek Klassen said. "We've been working really closely with our arrest processing section, with the Calgary Courts Centre, community court, just to get people to the right network, right social partners, to actually get them the help that they need." The safety program was expedited after the province requested increased collaboration between police and community peace officers, the city says. Klassen added that social disorder has been rising since broad public health restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic came to an end, and Safer Calgary is a culmination of efforts from various agencies to respond to that increase. "This program is really working," Klassen said. "When we talk about the stats, when we compare them to years past, I think it's just really making an overall difference in the downtown core, along the transit lines and elsewhere in the city," As police presence increases in some parts of Calgary, Klassen acknowledged that social disorder issues can be displaced into other areas of the city, which CPS is also monitoring. Charlene Wilson, senior director at Alpha House, says Safer Calgary is key to ensuring community safety around the city. "Everybody in Calgary is a community member. Encampments do arise and there is challenges with those pieces," Wilson said. "When folks are unhoused, those resources are even more valuable. Displacement happens and having these collaborations is what reduces that." She added that Alpha House wants to reduce unnecessary policing when their goal is to build rapport with unhoused people and provide them with shelter. Organizations like Alpha House have worked closely, albeit informally, with Calgary police and peace officers in the past. Wilson said over the years the relationship between their organizations has grown as they've attended to the same calls. "It's a twofold approach. You have the enforcement aspect that sometimes is needed, but there's that social component that is so key," Wilson said. "So when they're working together side by side, they're attending calls with Calgary Transit, we have our help teams directly with them everyday."
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Tackling crime, social disorder, Safer Calgary shows early results: CPS
A new initiative aimed at curbing crime and social disorder in public spaces is showing early signs of success, say Calgary Police. The Safer Calgary operation began on Feb. 17, with police, peace officers and community partners working together to address issues, particularly on public transit routes and downtown. New transit safety hub at Chinook Centre 'critical' to addressing social disorder concerns, councillor says New survey indicates safety perception is improving on Calgary Transit Over 230 charges have been laid since the operation began, 1,464 arrest warrants fulfilled and 1,060 tickets have been issued, said CPS in a Thursday media release. Additionally, 229 grams of fentanyl, 61 grams of methamphetamine and four grams of cocaine have been seized so far. 'Through integrated enforcement, strategic patrols and compassionate supports, we aim to strengthen our city together for a safer Calgary,' said CPS acting Staff Sgt. Derek Klassen in the release. Aside from enforcement, 1,151 social agency referrals have been made and there have been more than 1,128 business engagements. The police and peace officer partnership has been ongoing for several years, however implementing the Safer Calgary operation 'was expedited to align with a request from the province for enhanced collaboration' between the two agencies. 'Our collaborative approach improves response effectiveness and fosters a sense of security for transit users,' said Michael Pratt, acting deputy chief, Transit Public Safety in the release. The Alpha House and HELP Team (previously DOAP Team), have long partnered with transit and bylaw officers throughout the city. The HELP Team responds to situations of homelessness and substance use where other types of intervention aren't necessary. Over the past month, the HELP Team has had 3,163 calls for service, 6,741 client interactions, and provided 11,443 services including 4,997 transports to shelters, hospitals and other social services. More to come… swilhelm@
