The Edmonton Police just wrapped up the final phase of the Community Action Team (CAT) deployment in Boyle Street and McCauley on November 5. This marked the completion of the second four-day project that saw a marked increase of resources in the community. Police teamed up with 21 different community groups and aid agencies, offering a variety of different services and supports to the community stakeholders and the vulnerable population.

Over the four-day period there were approximately 25 additional police officers in the community from different units. There were plain-clothes units conducting buy and bust operations, in which an undercover officer and surveillance team would purchase drugs from a street level drug dealer in order to affect an arrest. Other plain-clothes units followed some of the high priority targets in the area and executed warrants on people in the area. The Alberta Sheriffs FASST (Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team) lent a hand in this and was very effective in tracking down their targets.

Traffic and Tactical section assisted the operation by offering a more visible presence: conducting traffic stops and offering assistance to our core group of 17 officers. These officers deployed into the area from a mobile command post that was set up on the street at differing locations every day, bolstering the manpower in Boyle Street and McCauley drastically for the four-day period.

During the CAT deployment a total of 73 arrests were made, bringing forth 40 criminal charges and 235 warrants executed. Almost 75 percent of the charges were laid in regards to previously charged individuals who had been released on specific conditions and were found to be contravening these, further victimizing the people and the community they were in.

The CAT has been growing with each deployment with more and more community involvement. During this deployment the 21 different community groups brought in just short of 100 additional resources external to the police. These resources varied from housing resources, victim advocates, and prostitution awareness workers as well as street outreach teams specializing in addictions counselling and detox services. There was also a contingent of volunteers that took to the street distributing crime prevention material to the community as well as giving gloves and toques to individuals who are exposed to the elements.

During the CAT deployment a total of 73 arrests were made, bringing forth 40 criminal charges and 235 warrants executed.

The partnerships of this team were able to house six chronically homeless individuals, removing them from a vulnerable environment. The ability to house individuals such as these helps the community grow as they attract criminals to the area due to the fact that they make easy victims. Their removal from the area will also bring about a decrease in predatory criminals in the area.

The partnerships and the outreach initiatives that were fostered during the Community Action Team deployment will continue to work within the neighbourhood. If you or your community group would like to become involved in the community please do so. The more positive groups we have influencing Boyle Street and McCauley the better.

If you would like assistance in becoming involved in community initiatives, or would like to be put in touch with a group volunteer, please contact me via e-mail at michael.walkom@edmontonpolice.ca. I would be happy assist you in any way I can in making these connections.

Happy Holidays!

_Cst. Walkom can be reached at (780) 421-2603 or via email at michael.walkom@edmontonpolice.ca