MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Police Service will soon be releasing a public survey.
The surveys are conducted every three** years and help the Police Service set it’s strategic priorities.
Several topics are included in the survey. All topics focus on public safety and where residents feel more could be done.
On Monday, a city council representative who sits on the commission said one of the questions may be about the possible use of red light cameras.
Councillor Robert Dumanowski said although the question may be included in the survey, it doesn’t mean the city would get them.
“There’s an opportunity for the public to say, ‘You know what? I’ve never though of red light cameras in the past, but in today’s day and age and Medicine Hat being at 63,000 people, maybe it’s time we look at that?’” he explained.
“If that comes out loud and clear in the survey, it’s something that the service will respond to.”
A former police officer with 26 years experience recently penned a letter to the commission.
In it, he encourages the service to do more to address driving violations in Medicine Hat.
Bob Tetz said he wrote the letter after nearly getting hit twice in one day by people running lights.
Tetz spent several years working in the traffic unit himself and wonders if it’s time to bring in extra resources, like red light cameras, to support officers.
“I’ve always been a proponent of tools that assist us,” he said. “I think red light cameras are one of those tools given the nature of traffic now.”
Tetz said he believes many people may not be on the same page when it comes to red light cameras, but, like photo radar, he feels it will target the offenders.
“Do you tax everybody? Or do you just tax the offender?” Tetz questioned. “It’s like photo radar, you’re only taxing the guys who break the speed limit not anybody else.”
The Police Service hasn’t finalized what questions will be in this year’s survey. It’s unclear if a question about red light cameras will make the final cut.
The survey is expected to be presented to the Police Commission on November 16th. It’s unclear if it will be made available online.
**An earlier version of this story said the survey is conducted every two years, but it’s actually every three years.
