As summer approaches, we eagerly prepare for barbecues, festivals, gardening, outdoor sports, and sun tanning. For some, summer can also mean listening to after hours drinking parties in the parks, as well as dealing with torn garbage bags in the alley, aggressive panhandlers, and damage to property. What are the police doing to reduce the disorder in our streets?

At the end of March, we were able to have four additional police members assigned to the McCauley neighbourhood. Over the course of the weekend, these officers conducted foot patrols of the area during the evening. These patrols are a great way for officers to address concerns of residents. Officers are also able to deal with the above mentioned disorder issues. Many of the issues are dealt with by way of warnings, tickets, or even criminal charges.

The beginning of April saw another large deployment of police officers in the McCauley neighbourhood and surrounding area. Officers once again conducted high visibility patrols in the area. These patrols accomplish a dual goal: they make the area safe for residents, customers, and business owners while making the area less desirable for anyone who is not engaged in legal activities.

With both of theses initiatives, the police officers involved represent a group over and above what is usually deployed in that area. This means that beat officers, patrol, and all other normally scheduled units are also working.

As the most recent addition to the Community Liaison Team, I will have the pleasure of working with the community residents, local businesses, the City of Edmonton, and other resources in order to find solutions to local issues.

As the new CLC, I would like to see the relationship between the Edmonton Police Service and the community continue to develop. We are able to achieve great results when we work together towards resolving issues.

It is difficult to say what tomorrow holds as the duties of a CLC continue to change as we see crime trends develop. One thing is certain – we want the citizens of Edmonton to safely enjoy themselves and I look forward to working together in order to make that happen.

In partnership with the McCauley Neighborhood Empowerment Team (N.E.T.), I will be at Santo’s restaurant (10821 95 Street) on the last Tuesday of every month starting April 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. for Community Crime Conversations. If you are interested in making a difference in your neighbourhood, we invite you to attend. The community meeting will be a great time to meet with police and your N.E.T. team, share your concerns or suggestions and enjoy the great menu and atmosphere. For further information about the neighbourhood empowerment team, visit www.edmontonpolice.ca.

Let us know how these projects are working by emailing me at samuel.sanson@edmontonpolice.ca.