Cooper says more Alternative Response Officers to patrol Fairhaven, Confederation Mall areas

Saskatoon Police Chief Troy Cooper says more Alternative Response Officers (AROs) will be deployed to the Fairhaven and Confederation Mall areas after an increase in a variety of crimes and disturbance calls in the first few months of this year.

Speaking on Gormley, Cooper said in the first three months of 2023, there have been just over 20,000 calls across the city — an eight per cent increase over the same time last year.

He said violent crimes are down slightly, but there has been a jump in other crimes.

“We had 69 arsons reported to us this year as compared to 18 last year,” he said.

One person has been charged with 29 arson offences so far.

Theft and property crimes related to addictions and increased foot traffic have also increased, especially in Fairhaven and Confederation Park.

“We’ve had an additional 35 property crimes reported so far this year. We certainly notice an increase and we have additional officers in the area — police officers but also alternate response officers,” said Cooper.

In the same neighbourhoods, non-criminal calls to police have nearly tripled from the same time last year.

“Calls such as disturbances or suspicious persons have gone up from 48 to 138 during that time as well,” he said.

In February, hundreds of residents from the Fairhaven and Confederation neighbourhoods attended a meeting with local community leaders and police to express their concerns about crime and safety since the arrival of the Saskatoon Tribal Council run wellness centre.

Ward 3 councillor David Kirton recently sent a letter to the provincial government calling attention to the problem of homelessness and gaps in service that exist in Saskatoon.

Cooper noted more people who are homeless and/or have complex needs are spending time in those communities and had a conversation with Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand on Wednesday about that.

“Where their role is is to make sure they’ve got strong policies inside, that they’ve got appropriate staffing levels, that they’re responsible for the area in and around the wellness centre,” Cooper said.

“They really wouldn’t have any ability to impact things like the Confederation shopping centre because it’s so far away.”

He said although there may be more people in the mall area because the wellness centre is nearby, patrolling it falls on private security hired by some businesses, Saskatoon police officers, and AROs.

“Alternate Response Officers that are being increased are finishing their training this week. So you’ll see more visible presence not only in terms of policing, but also in terms of alternate response,” he said.

The extra AROs will be deployed next week, but Cooper didn’t provide a number.