Police presence near outreach centre won't dissipate anytime soon, says chief

Charlottetown residents can expect a continued police presence near the Community Outreach Centre.

Charlottetown Police Chief Brad McConnell told a meeting of city council Tuesday night he intends keep local residents involved in how the site is managed from a police perspective as well. This would be a continuation of work already done in the neighbourhood, where police knocked on doors to talk to residents in advance of the outreach centre's opening.

The centre opened in its new location just off Park Street last month, an area represented by Coun. Justin Muttart. He questioned MacConnell on how police had defined who the neighbours of the centre are.

"I do feel like we are generalizing that it is just Park Street and Beach Street," said Muttart.

"But it does expand further than that."

Muttart wants to see police extend their canvassing efforts to areas such as Kensington Road. MacConnell committed to extending his efforts.

Coun. Justin Muttart says people who live near the centre have told him the heavy police presence is reassuring them, but many are worried that will decline in the summer. (Tony Davis/CBC)

"Certainly our focus was on Beach Street/Park Street for our public consultation," MacConnell said.

"We know there are migration paths and other people impacted and we will continue with our commitment to do as much as outreach and consultation as we can as we move forward here. I am happy so far with our efforts in that area, I think we are receiving good feedback."

When the centre was located on Euston Street some residents who lived near it complained about public drug use, trespassing, threats, discarded needles, property damage and declining property values. A meeting was held by police at the nearby Birchwood School where hundreds of people attended and voiced their concerns. Feedback was also loud and clear when a provincial legislative standing committee went on the road to hear about services offered in Charlottetown for those facing homelessness and struggling with drug dependency, with some folks suggesting the centre be shut down completely.

MacConnell is hoping those issues won't follow the centre to Park Street.

"I've asked my officers assigned to the area to make sure we have the heartbeat of those communities by the hour," he said.

"I am very optimistic from what I am seeing so far that our front-load approach and our outreach and our collaboration with the province and other stakeholders is paying dividends."

The Community Outreach Centre moved to Park Street on March 23. (Tony Davis/CBC)

People who live near the centre have told Muttart there is a heavy police presence and that is reassuring them, but many are worried that will decline into summer, he said.

"I would strongly suggest and recommend that continues at the pace at which it is occurring now," said Muttart.

"The residents have been speaking to me and indicated they do in feel that increased presence and again. They are requesting that continue and it is not just front loaded."

Summer is a busy time for Charlottetown police, with tourists pouring into the city, but MacConnell is confident his officers are up to the task of keeping the area policed, he said.

"As we emerge into the summer it will get busier. The population will grow and we certainly don't want to let our foot off the pedal, as you would say, on any of these issues," MacConnell said.

"There are officers assigned to the area, but there's a number of officers that respond to calls in the area, so we've asked all officers to patrol the area when they have time to between their calls and really increase the visibility of policing."

'Displacing the issue is not an answer'

Police have been moving people who hang out in the area but aren't accessing services, that includes in spaces like nearby Joe Ghiz Park.

"It's very challenging because displacing the issue is not an answer," MacConnell said, adding those that refuse services are a small portion of the population of those facing homelessness or are struggling with drug dependency.

"It's important to residents and all people in Charlottetown we give the outreach centre, and the spirit of the services that are trying to be delivered there, the best chance of success. But also keep people safe and make people feel safe in their neighbourhood and in their homes."

While people are concerned with potential outreach centre clients trespassing, there isn't a lot of that happening, MacConnell said.

"It's the fear that will happen," he said.

"Because of the migration to the facility [residents] see the clients going back and forth and some people are unsettled by that. It's unfortunate, but it's a reality."

There is still some security at the former location of the outreach centre on Euston Street. There was some confusion for a few folks when the centre first moved, MacConnell said, but officers advised them of the new location on Park Street.