Calgarians have a right to walk through their city streets or take public transit without fearing for their safety. Due to rising acts of violence, the government is taking direct action to keep Calgarians safe.
This initial investment in the Calgary Police Service (CPS) will support their efforts to recruit, train and deploy 50 new officers to high-crime areas like transit centres and the downtown core. When these officers are in place, high-crime areas like transit centres and the downtown core will see increased police presence.
“People in Calgary have a right to feel safe and secure in their city, whether they’re at home, enjoying a night out or riding public transit to work. Officer presence matters, and 50 new uniformed CPS members will provide a visible deterrent to crime and a reassuring presence to law-abiding Calgarians who have every right to expect they can go about their daily lives free from harm or the fear of being harmed.”
The CPS has begun recruiting new members. These additional officers will be strategically placed in high-crime areas with the flexibility to be redeployed to other parts of the city based on evolving needs. Provincial funding will help pay for police officer salaries and benefits and equipment needs like vehicles, uniforms, radios and body-worn cameras. Provincial funding for the remaining officers will be determined as part of the 2024-25 budget process.
“The safety of public spaces in Calgary is vital to the quality of life in our city. While we will lead with compassion and collaboration with our service partners, make no mistake that enforcement is a critical component of public safety. We are pleased that the ministry is supporting the ongoing work and commitments made by the City of Calgary to support improved community safety.”
“Calgary Police Service members have been carrying unsustainable workloads as financial pressures and reduced hiring during the pandemic meant that staffing did not keep up with increasing demands. “We are thankful that these 50 new officers will soon join the 130 new officers funded by council to greatly improve the service’s ability to manage Calgary’s complex crime issues.”
The addition of new officers builds on several actions Alberta’s government has already taken to improve public safety on Calgary’s streets, including implementing a pilot project to team Alberta Sheriffs with CPS officers, adding more local positions to the Sheriffs’ Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit, and a $5-million grant to improve safety on the city’s transit network.
Quick facts
- Funding breakdown:
- $1.11 million for officer salaries and benefits
- $2.5 million for one-time costs like vehicles, uniforms, radios and workstations
- $550,000 for ongoing technology and support costs
Related news
- Transit safety and violent crime: Enough is enough (April 4, 2023)
- More sheriffs in Calgary and Edmonton (Nov. 24, 2023)
- Zero tolerance for crime (Sept. 11, 2023)