Medicine Hat Police Chief Alan Murphy says the Medicine Hat Police Service is partnering with a number of organizations to come up with a plan, so people aren't uncomfortable or afraid of downtown. (Kevin Kyle/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat residents more afraid of going downtown, survey finds

Feb 26, 2024 | 4:56 PM

An increased amount of Medicine Hat residents are uncomfortable or afraid of going downtown, according to a survey presented to the police commission.

In the 2023 Medicine Hat Policing and Community Safety Survey, 54 per cent of respondents polled shared their concern, which is up from 29 per cent in 2021.

Medicine Hat Police Chief Alan Murphy said he feels the numbers can be attributed to what is playing out in downtowns across North America.

There has been an increase of people suffering from mental health and addiction issues and those who don’t have a place to live.

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“What we plan to do this year coming up, we’re already starting to work with our partners so we can have a better plan going forward,” Murphy said.

“This is not just a police issue, it’s not just a housing issue. I think all of our partners, we need to come together so we can solve the issue or work towards solutions so people can feel safer downtown.”

Murphy said the Medicine Hat Police Service is in talks with a number of organizations including Community Housing, the fire service, Alberta Health Services and other stakeholders about what to do.

He added this is an issue that needs to be fixed.

“I think some communities could say it’s everywhere so it it can’t be fixed,” Murphy said.

“I think it can be fixed and I like the attitude, community always has an attitude of working together and making it better,” he added.

“That’s awesome, so that’s what the intention is to do this summer.”

Medicine Hat’s downtown currently has a designated patrol unit which includes a sergeant and two constables.

City council at its last meeting discussed increasing the number of officers on the downtown patrol unit, but nothing was formally proposed.

“Any time if we were to add resources, that would be new resources, that’s something we have to go to council for,” Murphy said.

“If I use it from resources that we have existing in house, that means I have to stop doing something else to make that happen. So we have to determine the best way forward,” he added.

“The good news is that this is a budget year. We will be going before council in the fall of 2024. So I think that’s a good thing. So those are things we’ll be looking at for certain.”

Council budget talks will start in the fall.