As part of the Violence Reduction Strategy, Edmonton Police Service (EPS) implements monthly Community Action Team (CAT) deployments to high-risk places and neighbourhoods in an effort to reduce the severity, frequency, and fear and perception of violence and disorder.

CAT is an organized and focused mobile police unit created to identify and target struggling, at-risk communities in the City of Edmonton. It is supplemented by a variety of community partners. CAT empowers, educates, and reassures communities that the EPS is dedicated to curbing crime and restoring the faith of our citizens through its part in the Violence Reduction Strategy.

I had the privilege of organizing the last deployment from December 11-14. It was determined through EPS analysts and Edmonton Transit Security (ETS) analysts that the LRT main line from Churchill Station to Coliseum Station during certain times was one of the higher areas of crime in the downtown area. Looking at our crime stats we decided to deploy between the hours of 2 p.m. and 11 p.m.

For the suppression and enforcement portion, EPS used many different facets of its organization and partnered this time with ETS. We conducted deliberate and focused enforcement in and around the LRT at Churchill Station, Stadium Station, and Coliseum Station. We also focused in and around the Stanley Milner Library and the City Center Mall. There were many arrests made and approximately 8875 public interactions.

CAT is an organized and focused mobile police unit created to identify and target struggling, at-risk communities in the City of Edmonton. It is supplemented by a variety of community partners.

A large portion of CAT involves prevention, intervention and education. This time we partnered with REACH and used our EPS cadets to assist. The City Centre Mall supplied us with tables and a place to set up a booth. We set up at the entrance to the pedway system near the food court in the mall. This was a great spot to bring people to the booth. REACH staff interacted with approximately 600 people and either gave them crime prevention material or referred them to an agency which would have assisted them in some way.

This CAT drew special attention from City Hall as Mayor Iveson attended and viewed a portion of the CAT in progress.

For more information about CAT and other EPS violence reduction strategies visit our website: www.edmontonpolice.ca.

Cst. Wasmuth can be reached at darren.wasmuth@edmontonpolice.ca.