How a Manitoba town inspired council
plan to tackle downtown social issues
Thompson's community safety officer program considered a success
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
In 2009, Thompson, Man. wanted to address social ills affecting its downtown.
Thompson, Man. has struggled with social issues in its downtown. Two years ago it began a community safety officer program that has seen some success. |
Loitering, addiction issues and crime contributed to a negative image of the mining city of 13,123 in northern part of the province.
"We saw ourselves being portrayed as a very violent community," said Mayor Dennis Fenske of the city's violent crime statistics at the time.
So, the city responded by hiring a private contractor to serve as a bylaw enforcement unit, though it didn't work out, the mayor said. A city-run bylaw force was later established but had limited powers.
Laws were amended by the province and in 2015, the city tried a new approach. Its leaders launched a two-year pilot of a community safety officer (CSO) program.
The community safety officer model is one Yellowknife council plans to implement in the coming years, budgeting $300,000 this year and seeking matching funds from the GNWT. Unspent money could be carried over into future budgets.
Thompson hired eight officers whose role blended things like traffic enforcement with a social work aspect for vulnerable people on the street.
"The CSOs are meant to intervene, not just arrest and jail," the mayor said.
The officers can point vulnerable people toward social services, transport someone to hospital, shelter or safe place, or take them to police cells if they're violent to themselves or others.
Initial reviews largely deem the program a success, citing declining crime statistics, support from businesses and other municipalities looking to recreate the program.
Oswald Sawh, president of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce, told Yellowknifer members used to lodge complaints about issues in its downtown regularly before the position was created.
"I think we've had next to nil complaints the last few years from members," Sawh said. "I think the program has gone very well."
Dennis Marchiori, Yellowknife's director of public safety, said starting the program here requires the legislative assembly to amend several laws to grant the CSOs power they will need to fulfill their mandate. The city hasn't contacted the territory yet about the changes and Marchiori acknowledged it could be years before the program is in place given the need for laws to be changed.
"I don't believe we would see the program in 2017," Marchiori said in an interview Jan. 31.
Council wasn't unanimous during budget talks in December about the program. Coun. Niels Konge said he thought council was "jumping the gun" by budgeting money before the GNWT has made the needed changes.
Coun. Shauna Morgan expressed hesitation, saying she believed there was a need for a social work emphasis instead of more law enforcement.
Coun. Adrian Bell, who introduced the idea based on a 2016 review of the program carried out by the City of Thompson, said the downtown core has a safety problem that CSOs could help address while also addressing the social aspect Morgan spoke about.
Much of how the program works and initial reviews of it are laid out in the Thompson report from last August, written by the municipality's manager of public safety.
It describes the program as successfully reducing crime and addressing social issues and includes generally favourable letters from some of the community safety officers, RCMP and others in the community.
Thompson and the province split the $600,000 annual cost for hiring eight people who received three weeks' training. It paid $120,000 for start-up costs that includes uniforms, training and two marked vehicles.
The city aimed to hire people of indigenous descent for the program. Those hired received training in drug awareness, gangs, cultural awareness and sensitivity, the residential school system, and were taught about self-defence, use of force, pepper spray and baton use.
They patrol mainly downtown, and work elsewhere as needed.
One community safety officer pointed out the budget was not sufficient, as they didn't work holidays or get paid overtime.
Another CSO, Quinton Mintenko, described being first to arrive at the scene of serious accidents, talking people out of suicide and pointing people toward outreach services.
"We are placing individuals who have become too intoxicated to care for themselves and have become a danger to themselves in a safe place where they are constantly monitored. I know in this aspect alone that this program has saved lives," he wrote in a letter included in the review report.
The program has resulted in police officers being able to focus more on criminal investigations, saved police hours guarding mental-health patients and brought in extra eyes to monitor the community, RCMP Staff Sgt. Kevin Lewis stated in a letter.
Letters from businesses call the program "crucial," "absolutely essential" and "wonderful."
"From observations, well-trained officers are both professional and sensitive to cultural differences, addictions, mental health and youth challenges," wrote Brett O'Meara, owner of the Thompson McDonald's.
The report does allude to concerns from the community, including one letter that points to comments "about the negative treatment or abuse of homeless people by law enforcement entities," and a recommendation for more cultural proficiency training when working with indigenous people.
Community reaction has been mixed, the mayor said. Some believe there is a need for the city to take care of people on the street while others suggest the community shouldn't be responsible for it.
The city has asked the province for matching funds for two more years.
"One way or the other, we will continue the program," said Fenske.
Asked what he'd tell communities like Yellowknife, he said the program needs to be built on relationships - with RCMP, social agencies and those the officers will interact with.
"It's really important that those in the CSO positions have relationships with those that are on the streets that is based on mutual respect," he said.
