The Downtown Patrol Unit respond to mental health calls, build relationships and keep downtown safe all on foot (photo courtesy Ross Lavinge)

By Teagan Rasche

13 months since the team started

A day in the life of a Downtown Patrol Unit officer

Nov 24, 2021 | 4:53 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Thirteen months have passed since the Downtown Patrol Unit became a permanent part of Medicine Hat Police Service.

The officers have a unique role in building relationships, responding to mental health calls and keeping the city safe, all on foot.

To prepare for the day, Sgt. Brian Bohrn and Const. Jason Van Mulligen grab their radios and phones. Next, they throw on a warm jacket as they prepare to spend the chilly day walking downtown Medicine Hat.

“Coming to work every day is very, very enjoyable and having that ability to make a difference in the downtown has been really rewarding,” Van Mulligen said.

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A staircase at the transit station is a place people spend the night. It’s one of the first spots on their patrol.

Van Mulligen runs into a familiar face.

“You can’t stay here,” he says to a man.

With compassion, Van Mulligen encourages the man to get a warm meal because relationship building is a big part of the DPU.

Bohrn and Van Mulligen then join up with the third member of the team, Const. Lori Parasynchuk.

Since the DPU started, its focus has been on addressing public behaviour concerns and increasing the feeling of safety for all community members.

“There was, and some might say there is, a perception that the downtown core is unsafe and I would say that there’s not a lot of criminal activity that’s happening downtown, it’s more public behaviour and nuisance-type complaints,” Bohrn said.

The officers know everyone downtown by name and have given all the businesses their phone numbers, including Karri Montean.

Montean owns Botanicals, which she recently moved from Second Street downtown to North Railway, and feels the DPU helps keep Medicine Hat a safe community.

“In both locations, we’ve developed a really good relationship with them,” Montean said. “They know us by name, we know them by name, we feel really comfortable. If something ever were to happen, we have familiar faces we can call.”

The unit spends more than 30 hours a week walking the downtown core, averaging 16,000 steps per day.

Policing the area can be challenging as they primarily work with people suffering from addictions, mental health issues and homelessness.

“It’s definitely a different dynamic than the average patrolman would deal with,” Bohrn said. “We’re dealing with these people day in and day out. The majority of our shift is spent with them.”

This shift has been fairly quiet but the team remains dedicated to making sure people are comfortable and safe.

As lunchtime nears, they visit those at the Salvation Army who are there for a warm meal.

“Here for some lunch today?” Bohrn asks a man.

“Yeah,” he responds.

The DPU had a busy first year responding to 550 calls, laying 55 criminal charges and issuing 93 tickets.