Calgary planning to bring police station back to downtown

Calgary's downtown will have a full-service police station for the first time in over a decade as crime and social disorder booms in the area.

The City of Calgary is planning on bringing a full-service police station back to it’s downtown core for the first time in nearly a decade as violent crime and social disorder in the area booms.

“Having a visible presence for the Calgary Police Service (as well as) many of the other community partners and providers will go a long way to really address some of the perceptions of safety,” said Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas.

Bringing a station back has been on Farkas’ mind since his time as a councillor 10 years ago. It was also part of his campaign when he ran for council’s top seat.

“It’s not enough to know that there might be help somewhere. It’s important for our local residents and businesses to know that they have a very specific place that they can go to any day of the week,” Farkas said.

The pledge to bring a station back to Calgary’s downtown comes as police say social disorder and violent crime have been disproportionately concentrated in the area compared to the rest of the city.

The last time CPS had a downtown station was 2017.

They currently have a community counter on 6 Avenue S.W.. but it does not host police officers who patrol the area 24/7, nor does it process arrests around the clock.

Those who come to downtown see an increased police presence as a positive step for the area.

“That could be a bit more reassuring than not having something that could just take a bit more time,” said University of Calgary student Nayab Noor.

A possible new police station is welcome news and a “meaningful improvement” to the group representing 2,600 downtown businesses that often shoulder the burden when crime strikes.

“We hear from all those businesses every single day,” said Andrew Doudican of the Calgary Downtown Association.

“This is the stuff they’re looking forward to…there’s a disturbance in a business and they know that that call (to police) will take them 45 minutes to have some action, whereas there could be a patrol coming from down the street.”

Most of city council is open to the idea, but one council member says having a building is not much of a deterrent for crime and disorder, and points to other areas like East Hastings in Vancouver as an example of an area with a police station but still high crime rates.

“It’s about the officers, the supports, and all the other agencies, all working together in tandem to deliver the results,” said Ward 7 Coun. Myke Atkinson.

“Buildings don’t deliver safety. Police officers do.”

Farkas has emphasized that delivering safety will be a community effort.

“This is just reinforcing our Calgary Police Service as just that — a service,” he said.

Council will meet next month to discuss the motion.