Calgary residents concerned by looming safe communities cuts

CALGARY- Some Calgary residents are on edge, after learning that a safer communities program is facing a 20 per cent budget cut.

Mary Ryan lives in the northwest community of Bowness, and says that just a few years ago her block was taken over by drug dealers.

“We had a lot of absentee landlords,” she remembers. “When I’d call them up and say ‘Hi, you have drug dealers living in your home,’ they’d say, basically, ‘I don’t care.’”

Fortunately, sheriffs working with ALERT do care, and created the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit (SCAN) to investigate tips from the public about suspicious activity. Since 2007, they have resolved hundreds of complaints and shut down 21 problem properties in Alberta.

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However, the Alberta government recently announced $7.5 million in cuts, meaning 60 sheriff positions will need to be reassigned.

“It’s our indication it will not affect actual program or apprehension,” explains Solicitor General Jonathan Denis. “We’ve spoken to EPS and CPS, they know a lot of the efforts that the sheriffs at ALERT were doing.

“I’m confident because we haven’t cut any police officers that we’ll be able to maintain the same level of service.”

The CEO of ALERT says they still haven’t decided what will be cut.

“Right now, we’re examining all aspects of the budget impact, all areas of ALERT are being looked at including the SCAN program,” says Supt. Ted Miles. “At this point in time we’re just not clear how we’re going to manage our fiscal reality.”

Residents can now only wait and hope that officials don’t cut the very thing they believe is keeping their neighbourhoods safe.

“People used to be scared to go out of their houses,” says Ryan. “Don’t think this is a problem that we solved. There are active investigations going on right here, right now.”

With files from Bindu Suri