Prince Albert downtown businesses weigh in on proposed public safety fund

Prince Albert city council is discussing a possible public safety reserve to support police work through community fundraising.

The Prince Albert business community is responding to the idea of a public safety fund that would allow citizens to financially contribute to police and fire department efforts.

Alex Bocian, owner of Bocian Jewellers, says Prince Albert’s downtown could benefit from a higher police presence.

“I think if we have more police presence downtown walking or driving, and asking people who shouldn’t be here to have to move somewhere else, probably would help,” he said.

In November, the annual policing budget was passed about $160,000 short of the recommendation.

Prince Albert city council is discussing a possible public safety reserve to support additional police work through community fundraising.

“Our business community reached out and said, is there a way we can do that?” said Coun. Darren Solomon.

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“After some discussion and somebody throwing some ideas around, they said, well, you know, we’d be willing to contribute some resources if it was something that would help with public safety.”

Bocian isn’t sure if he’d support a public safety fund, not knowing if it would help deter crime downtown.

“As soon as I know where the money goes to, probably then I’ll make my decision,” he said.

In a letter to council late last year, the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners said that while the police service and the board cannot participate in the creation or promotion of a privately funded reserve, if council independently develops the reserve, the board supports the creation of a transparent application process through which police administration could request project funding.

The fire department would also be eligible to apply.

“It’s really just at the starting stages,” said Solomon. “It came up during budget time, and then of course that went back to the police commission, and they forwarded off a letter to us. Now we’ve asked administration to come up with some options that could be possible.”

The matter is to be examined by the city’s financial services department.

CTV reached out to the Board of Police Commissioners but it did not respond by time of publication.