'We have officers that do foot patrols': Halifax Regional Police responds to calls for beat cops
As businesses in Halifax call for an increased police presence, Halifax Regional Police insists it has a multi-level police patrolling strategy.
“We have officers that do foot patrols on a regular basis and we do that throughout our region,” said Halifax Regional Police spokesperson Const. John Macleod.
He also noted the police rely on bike patrols, community resource officers and patrols done in vehicles and said those needs change based on resources, calls for service and what’s in front of them.
“Our front-line patrol officers are out there doing what we want them to do. Like I say, it’s part of our patrol strategy and we need to look at what’s required from our community,” he said.
Macleod said during COVID-19, adjustments were made to street patrols for safety reasons.
“Those changes, we’re moving back from those,” he said.
Earlier this week, Paul Mackinnon, the CEO of the Halifax Downtown Business Commission, said businesses want to see an increased police presence downtown. It comes after a 56-year-old man survived multiple stab wounds in an apparently random attack Friday evening.
“You think about the old days of the 'cop on the beat,'" Mackinnon said.
Jim Hoskins, a retired staff sergeant with Halifax Regional Police, said traditionally, police have moved away from beat patrols because of resources.
He’s walked the beat and knows it works.
“It gives the public a sense of safety when they see police officers downtown and they get to know the business people, they get to know the small shops,” he said.
Hoskins believes consistency is key.
“It’s easy to say put more presence but you need officers that are going to be down there steady and know the district and want to own that turf,” he said.
Downtown Dartmouth, N.S., businesses ran into their own problems this summer
“One of our storekeepers was assaulted and that was the straw that broke the camel's back,” said Tim Rissesco, the CEO of Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission.
Rissesco said Dartmouth businesses met with police and asked for a greater presence.
“We received increased police patrols and a community response officer for downtown Dartmouth,” he said.
The union representing police believes the biggest challenge in delivering the service is staffing.
“We’re going to have to figure out how to get more police officers back to work, out on the street or hired. I just don’t believe we can do it with the staffing levels we have right now,” said Sgt. Dean Stienburg, the president of the Halifax Regional Police Association.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.