Community Safety: A Realistic Approach to Public Safety in Edmonton

During this election, I’ve heard a lot about public safety. While it’s not always the top issue at the doors, sometimes it is the number one concern for residents. And when it is, people are passionate. I understand why—your safety is important to me too. Personally, I don’t let my kids take the LRT, and I don’t like them spending time at transit stations, simply because I fear for their safety. I know I’m not alone in this concern.

A few candidates have made bold promises about crime and safety. But here’s the reality: there are limits to what a City Councillor can actually do.

What Council Can—and Cannot—Do

First, City Council cannot direct the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). Oversight happens through the Edmonton Police Commission, and even that role is limited by legislation under Alberta’s Police Act. While Council approves police budgets, day-to-day operations remain independent (Government of Alberta, 2022).

That doesn’t mean Council has no influence. For example, one Councilor has talked about setting up a community policing program. That is within Council’s scope—and it’s a great idea. But it’s not new. In fact, I helped establish one before.

My Experience with Community Policing

It’s no secret that I used to work for Mike Nickel when he was on City Council. Back in 2019, residents of Ward 11 were raising increasing concerns about public safety. Instead of using safety as a political wedge or an election promise, we decided to act.

We reached out directly to EPS leadership and organized meetings where the police chief came to community leagues to hear residents’ concerns firsthand. The result was the creation of a Community Policing Program within Ward 11.

Within its first year, that program made a real impact. Police patrols—built on relationships with community members—led to the shutdown of three meth labs. How? By officers talking to people walking their dogs, asking about unusual activity, and building trust. Patrol officers who encountered individuals experiencing homelessness didn’t simply move them along—they connected them with appropriate services. Whether or not you believe people should be on the streets, I think we can agree that panhandling on a corner is not a real solution. Through this program, EPS was able to redirect vulnerable individuals to resources they may not have known existed.

We achieved this without a budget increase or a Council vote. It came down to one thing: relationships. We built trust between the police and the community, and that trust allowed police to gather information they could act on.

Why Reporting Matters

One of the ongoing challenges with policing is underreporting. People often think, “What’s the point? They won’t catch anyone.” But reporting crime provides EPS with crucial data about when and where problems occur. Criminals return to the same areas they find “safe” to operate in. When police know those patterns, they can increase patrols, disrupt activity, and force criminals to make mistakes. That’s when arrests happen.

If elected, I will work with EPS to bring this Community Policing Program back.

Crime Prevention Through Design

I also want to look at ways to prevent crime before it starts. EPS has data on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a research-based approach that looks at how neighbourhood layouts, lighting, and building design can deter crime (Cozens & Love, 2015). Incorporating police expertise into city planning decisions could save both time and money by reducing the need for reactive policing later.

Smarter Use of Peace Officers

At the same time, I’m mindful that police are not always the solution. For example, when the Province restricted photo radar use and the City eventually cancelled its program, the Peace Officers who had been doing that enforcement were not laid off. These officers already meet the same qualifications as Transit Peace Officers. That means they could easily be reassigned to transit enforcement—adding an estimated 54,000 service hours annually—without increasing the budget.

Instead, this Council decided to hire a private security company for $5 million, providing fewer service hours and with far less authority than Peace Officers already have (Global News, 2023). That’s not an efficient use of public money.

A Balanced, Practical Approach

Community safety isn’t about election slogans—it’s about practical solutions. We need to balance proactive crime prevention, smarter use of existing resources, and strong partnerships between residents, police, and peace officers. Edmonton has already seen that community policing works. We know that CPTED strategies reduce crime. And we know we have underutilized Peace Officers who could make transit safer today—without costing taxpayers more.

If elected, I’ll push to bring back programs that worked, cut wasteful spending on ineffective alternatives, and keep safety rooted in community collaboration rather than political promises.

Because at the end of the day, every Edmontonian deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood, at their bus stop, and on their way home.

References

• Cozens, P., & Love, T. (2015). A review and current status of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). Journal of Planning Literature, 30(4), 393–412.

• Government of Alberta. (2022). Police Act and Police Governance. Link

• Global News. (2023). City of Edmonton hires private security for transit stations amid safety concerns. Link

• Ritchie Community League. (2019). Community policing program launch. [Facebook post].

• Knottwood Community League. (2019). Community meeting with EPS Chief. [Facebook post].

• Infinity Safety Awareness. (2019). Neighbourhood safety initiatives. [Facebook post].