Coupled with the announcement of a new initiative, the Calgary Police Service (CPS) began its fourth installment of Operation Order on Wednesday morning, focusing on the downtown core. 

Having started early in the morning, the June 24 initiative will run late into the evening all throughout the downtown area. The initiative began last fall and aims to improve public safety by increasing police presence, which may result in arrests or connections to social supports.

The operation comes just over a month after one that took place at various locations in the city’s southeast. CPS Chief Katie McLellan explained that the endeavour stemmed from comments from residents across the city, particularly in the core. 

“We have heard clearly from people in our city, especially those who live, work, and spend time in our downtown, that safety and social disorder remain real concerns,” she said. 

“While progress has been made, we know there is much more work to do.”

Calgary police will be posting updates on their Instagram account throughout the day, and LWC will refresh its reporting as these numbers roll in. These totals are preliminary, as the official results are not expected until at least a day after the operation has concluded.

New long-term operation aims to expand police presence

Chief McLellan said that the operations have benefited the neighbourhoods they have served, but that the one-day events are time-constrained. In light of this, she announced that another initiative, called Operation Restore, will take shape on Thursday. 

“As we move into the summer, people will be downtown, like today, attending festivals, enjoying public spaces, and taking part in events like the Stampede,” she said. 

“Our approach needs to reflect that reality. We are focusing our efforts where people will be, because everyone deserves to feel safe while enjoying our city.”

Operation Restore is a part of the same umbrella program, Safer Calgary, and will run for several months starting June 25. The initiative will function similarly to the singular events but aims to achieve greater consistency. 

“Operation Order remains an important part of our public safety strategy and allows us to respond quickly, increase visibility, and intervene when necessary, while connecting people to supports,” said McLellan. 

“But what we are hearing and seeing tells us that short-term visibility needs to be reinforced with longer-term presence.”

Downtown’s East Village, Stephen Avenue, will be the focus

McLellan said that the new operation will see the same officers deployed at the same locations in and around downtown’s East Village and Stephen Avenue, and that, in doing so, officers can build a better understanding of the circumstances there. 

“When people recognize officers in their community, it builds confidence, changes how they engage, and encourages them to share concerns and report issues,” she said. 

“It also helps us better understand what is happening in those areas. For vulnerable individuals, it can lead to better connections and better outcomes.”

Additionally, McLellan said that this consistency will allow the CPS and its partner agencies — Calgary Community Standards, Transit Public Safety, and the Alberta Sheriffs — to work together to recognize patterns. 

As of right now, she said no date has been set for when the operation will finish. McLellan said that success will be determined by improvements in public feedback, perceptions of safety, and support referrals.