MHPS Insp. Tim McGough says police want people to feel safe in the downtown core. (Photo Courtesy of Colton McKee)

By Chris Brown

On the beat

Police being proactive in downtown Medicine Hat

Jul 13, 2020 | 4:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – If you’re downtown this summer you’ll see city police walking, driving and sometimes even riding the beat.

Medicine Hat Police Service Insp. Tim McGough says want to proactively deal with any issues that may arise.

“We recognize at the police service that the health and safety of the downtown core is very important to the community and as such we’ve made a commitment to have resources where permitted to come down and patrol this area,” he said.

Officers make themselves visible downtown to engage with people who may be involved in anti-social behaviour, such as being intoxicated, loitering and panhandling.

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McGough adds some of the people officers deal with have complex needs and MHPS wants to get them connected with those who can help them out.

The goal is to improve the overall experience in the core, said McGough.

“We want to ensure that people feel safe coming to the downtown. As you can see now it’s getting revitalized and it’s quite the vibrant downtown so we want people to be able to come downtown, feel safe and enjoy themselves,” he said.

Officers spend as much time as possible downtown, even overnight, and will maintain a presence there for the foreseeable future.