Summer 2011.indd - Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre

10 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 11
Maximizing Safety Calgary Police Service
In January 2011, Inspector Kathy Grant took over command
of the District 1 office, which oversees downtown Calgary.
Like all of the District 1 Inspectors before her, she
recognizes the importance of proactively co-operating with
local agencies.
“Our frontline officers regularly interact with both the
staff and clients of the Drop-In Centre,” says Insp. Grant.
“While this often involves dealing with an issue or solving
a problem, it can also be as simple as saying hello and
checking to see if the person is okay.”
Community Liaison Officer Constable Kutarna
The mission of the Calgary Police Service is to “maximize
public safety in the city of Calgary,” while its vision is to
“work together for a safe community.”
This is reflected in the approach taken by the Service to
ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Calgarians, including
those who are homeless.
It is vital that law enforcement, City partners and social
agencies such as the Drop-In Centre collaborate to maintain
the safety of homeless citizens, while helping them access
shelter or permanent housing.
Every day, frontline officers work with shelters and other
agencies to achieve this goal. For example, the CPS
regularly receives calls for assistance from social agencies
to deal with a number of issues, such as disturbances,
unwanted guests, drugs and assaults.
In 2010, CPS frontline officers attended the DI over 1,300
times.
With this number of calls, it is vital that responding officers
have a good working relationship with Centre staff, including
security employees.
In many of these situations, officers and staff act as
“peacekeepers,” diffusing situations in order to maintain
the safety of clients and guests.
Yet, responding to calls is only part of the approach taken
by the Calgary Police Service.
The Service strives to maintain open, two-way
communication with social agencies. This responsibility
rests in part with the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for
a particular area. Each of the eight CPS districts is divided
into zones, and each zone has a designated CLO. The job
of a CLO is to work with the community to resolve issues of
concern. In the case of the Drop-In Centre, the CLO serves
as an important point of contact between the organization
and the Service.
Insp. Grant adds, “the CLOs and other officers in District
1 work proactively with the Drop-In Centre and other
social agencies. This can include listening to concerns,
responding to issues raised and doing whatever it takes to
ensure the safety of clients and staff alike.”
Constable Kutarna Conversing with DI Clients
From a police perspective, this is not simply a matter of
enforcement, a point well-understood by the CPS, and
reflected in its approach to homelessness.
In 2009, the CPS established the Vulnerable Persons
Unit (VPU), as part of an overall approach to enhance the
safety of all Calgarians. This approach recognizes that
enforcement is only one part of the solution, along with
education and prevention.
As part of the Community and Youth Services Section of
the CPS, the role of the VPU is to co-ordinate the Service’s
response to the issue of homelessness.
The VPU provides resources and training for officers.
Liaising with social agencies, they utilize a team approach
to case management for individuals who are identified as
acute service users. They also assist in developing coordniated
strategic plans in response to various issues,
including winter response, housing and client care.
An component of the VPU is the Police and Crisis Team
(PACT). PACT partners CPS officers with Alberta Health
Services mental health professionals. These teams work
together to find the appropriate care for those who need
help. By having a mental health clinician as part of the
team, clients are provided with a mental health assessment
and the team determines the most appropriate course of
action. Teams also provide assertive community outreach
to the vulnerable homeless population by building a rapport
Constable Kutarna chats with DI Security Staff Scott K.
with individuals and connecting them with appropriate
community services.
“Many of the homeless citizens who run into difficulties
with police have underlying physical and mental health
issues that need the attention of professionals in healthrelated
areas,” says Acting Inspector Curtis Olson of the
Community and Youth Services Section.
“The role of our Vulnerable Persons Unit and the Police
and Crisis Teams is to help link these Calgarians with the
appropriate support. We are currently training our officers,
and working with other agencies, on how to more effectively
do this.”
In 2010, CPS frontline officers
attended the DI over 1,300 times.
The Calgary Police Service recognizes that homelessness
and poverty are larger social issues, affecting people from
all walks of life, cultures and backgrounds. Addressing
these issues is the collective responsibility of all Calgarians,
including social agencies, the City of Calgary, businesses,
residents and police. We must all work together to solve
these community concerns.