Downtown enforcement patrols have increased, city says

The City of Yellowknife says municipal enforcement officers have increased their presence in the city’s downtown core.

At a council meeting on Monday this week, the city’s public safety director, Craig MacLean, detailed the time officers have dedicated to foot patrols in the area in recent months.

According to MacLean, municipal officers conducted nine patrols in May, accounting for a little more than 12 hours of staff time. In June, they conducted 22 patrols or approximately 63 hours of staff time, followed by 30 patrols or 123 hours in July, and 66 patrols or 97 hours in August.

“The number and the increases are intentional as we’ve now regularly scheduled, daily, specifically these types of patrols,” MacLean said.

“We’re not just patrolling, walking around. We’re also looking for litter, unsightly lands. We’re also engaging with residents, making sure that we’re talking to them, that we’re listening to them.”

MacLean said the city is now doing a better job of tracking the number and hours of patrols by officers. The numbers provided at Monday’s meeting do not include patrols of homeless encampments or the city’s trail system, he added.

Municipal enforcement officers did not, however, conduct any bike patrols this summer.

MacLean said the city was unable to secure a trainer to ensure staff were “competent and capable of performing those duties.”

Consequences of June resolution

MacLean provided patrol details at the request of councillor Ryan Fequet, who wanted to know about progress on municipal enforcement priorities that council approved earlier this year.

“I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback and I know there’s extra effort going to this initiative,” Fequet said. “I just want to see if that’s tracking, or if there’s any other implications or consequences of this decision.”

In June, city councillors passed a resolution to address concerns over the public use of alcohol and drugs downtown, as well as drug dealing, vandalism and litter.

The resolution committed the city’s municipal enforcement division to prioritize engagement and visibility in the community – particularly in the downtown core – with a focus on litter, unsightly lands and ensuring a safe environment for all.

“There was essentially a mood and a call from the public to draw higher attention to the downtown,” city manager Steven Van Dine said at Monday’s meeting.

He said the increased foot patrols have allowed Yellowknifers to feel safer in the downtown but have also impacted service levels in other areas of the city.

“There are some things around speed zones and school areas and other areas where we’re doing our best to make sure that we’re maintaining the level of vigilance in those areas,” he said.

RCMP also patrolling downtown

In June’s resolution, councillors also recommended that RCMP increase their foot and bike presence downtown, although the city does not control police enforcement priorities.

RCMP said later that month they were working to increase downtown visibility amid staffing challenges at the Yellowknife detachment.

In an update to Cabin Radio on Wednesday, NWT RCMP spokesperson Josh Seaward said since that commitment, the Yellowknife detachment has recorded 56 foot or bike patrols.

Police have conducted at least 80 vehicle patrols per day, he added, although that number may be higher due to calls for service that have not been documented as patrols.

Like the city, Seaward said RCMP had not previously consistently tracked foot patrols in the city, making comparison over time difficult.