Hamilton Chief of Police Frank Bergen says the police service is increasing its downtown core patrol to six officers, from the existing two, beginning in September.
“The decision was made this morning,” Bergen told City Council on Monday, August 12, to have six officers “Monday to Saturday on various shifts in the core.”
Chief Bergen says the cost of additional officers is $190,000 for three months.
“We will bear that cost within my 2024 budget.”
Chief Bergen says the HPS is responding to calls from downtown businesses for increased patrol and police response to retail crime, threats of violence, and overall safety concerns.
Council Hears from Downtown Businesses and Residents
On Monday, August 12, City Council heard from many local business delegates that the downtown ‘is at a boiling point’ due to concerns about crime and public safety.
“The open drug use, erratic behavior, garbage, vandalism, defecation, and violence that plagues the downtown core has reached its boiling point,” Michelle Blanchard of Markland Property Management said.
“I was recently also made aware that a large Canadian financial institution on King Street has requested pricing on the installation of bulletproof glass for their bank branch downtown Hamilton. These facts, paired with the volume of private security companies operating all over their core, is very telling.”
Sonic Unyon Records co-owner and President Tim Potocic says public safety concerns challenge the many events he organizes downtown.
“We’re seeing things like loss of ticket volume at our venues because people just don’t want to come down here,” he said. “it’s basically passing, walking through a zombie movie, to be honest. Like with the drug use that’s happening downtown, the open, the openness of it. And I know that our police department can’t manage it, because it’s all over the place … I think the encampment protocol doesn’t work. I think we have to get these people into facilities.”
“It’s incredibly challenging to, say that it’s not, the way we feel. It’s the way it is. This is not a manifestation in our minds of safety and security. These are real safety and security issues. We experience them every week,” Equal Parts Hospitality CEO Jason Cassis said.
“I think ultimately what we need to do is we need to house these people who don’t have a home, because that’s good for everybody.”
Federal Court Leaves Hamilton Due to Random Downtown Shootings
Canada’s Federal Court recently announced the closure of its Hamilton courtroom.
“As a result of ongoing security concerns for the public, employees and Members of the Court, the Tax Court of Canada has made the decision to cease its operations at its current Hamilton location, permanently and effective immediately,” wrote Chief Justice Gabrielle St-Hilaire on July 19, 2024.
The Court determined the risk of random violence around Downtown Hamilton was such that it was too dangerous for court staff to travel to and from the courtroom beside Hamilton City Hall.
Mayor Andrea Horwath responded to the closure, saying, “it is a bit of a blow to our sense of community.”
“We have to pull together, and encourage people to not run away, and to stay strong and to be prepared to be part of the solution, to be continuing to have confidence in the city. ”
“Yes, it is a very difficult time right now. That difficult time is not going to go away by these kinds of decisions. It is disappointing that the Federal Court is making this decision, it is problematic, and I am not pleased by it.”
“They need to take some responsibility for being part of a community instead of running away.”
Increased Security at Hamilton City Hall
Hamilton City Hall, like downtown businesses, has increased the number of security guards on duty in the public area of the building.
There are now at least four guards on duty at all times when the building is open. Additionally, there are three security guards at the MacNab bus terminal at all times.
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: August 26, 2024 Last updated: August 26, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version
I think this is probably what is needed. However, I expect the downtown ward councillors to be silent on this. They can’t be seen as supporting it, but probably are secretly thankful.