Courtesy: CHAT Newsroom.

By Angela Kazmierczak

Medicine Hat’s Downtown Patrol Unit says the downtown area is safe

May 18, 2023 | 5:22 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat Police Service reports that they receive more service calls for the downtown area than any other part of the city.

And while some may perceive Medicine Hat’s downtown core as unsafe and an area ridden with hard crime, the Downtown Patrol Unit, an on-foot patrol that addresses public behavior concerns, maintains that the area is safe.

“We don’t see a lot of crime downtown, especially when we’re talking about a vulnerable population – when I say vulnerable population, I’m talking about those people that are struggling with mental health challenges, addiction challenges, housing challenges,” said Constable Travis Funk.

Constable Funk says the vulnerable population in the downtown area are simply trying to find a place to exist in, and a place that’s in close proximity to their services.

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While the area does see a higher number of public assist and nuisance-type calls, where people are loitering on properties or near businesses, Constable Funk says there’s another reason for the higher numbers.

“Our calls for service might seem a little higher, but the reason for that is every time we see something, we’ll generate a call. And everytime that we go to talk to someone, when we just move them to a different location, we’ll generate a call,” said Constable Funk. These calls are generated to document the patrol’s activities.

We then went downtown and asked how some of you felt.

“We were here most throughout the week. We have no problems. There were some things, but we feel quite secure. We see the police quite a bit so,” said one gentleman.

“Well the way these people wander around. We live close by and it’s not that good,” said one.

“Not really. It’s pretty chill around here.”

“It’s Medicine Hat. I think we’re pretty good considering some cities, right?” said another.

These Hatters gave mostly positive responses.

Constable Funk assures that a strong police presence is downtown, and all calls are taken seriously.

“It’s really, again, making everyone feel safe, everybody feel welcome, and if there’s crime that happens here just like in any other part of the city, we’ll investigate that crime,” said the constable.

He maintains that the level of hard crime is consistent with other areas in the city, and people shouldn’t have any concerns about grabbing lunch or shopping downtown.