Public safety is one of the most fundamental pillars of any thriving community. As mayor of Chestermere, I understood that creating an environment where residents feel safe, secure, and confident in their surroundings is essential for the well-being of the entire city. Public safety is not just about law enforcement; it’s about fostering a strong sense of community, ensuring residents feel supported, and providing proactive services to prevent crime and enhance overall quality of life.
Chestermere is a beautiful, peaceful city, but like any growing community, the challenges of ensuring safety evolve over time. As our population increased, so did the complexity of maintaining law and order, protecting residents from potential threats, and ensuring that everyone had access to the resources they needed to stay safe.
During my time as mayor, I prioritized public safety by not only focusing on policing but also on creating a supportive, responsive environment that addressed the root causes of crime, mental health, and emergency response. In this blog, I will outline some of the key initiatives and actions we took to enhance public safety in Chestermere.
Strengthening Policing and Law Enforcement
One of the most direct ways to improve public safety is by ensuring that law enforcement agencies are adequately equipped and supported to serve the community. During my time in office, I worked closely with the RCMP to ensure that Chestermere had the resources it needed to maintain a visible, responsive, and effective police presence.
We increased funding for police services to allow for better staffing, equipment, and training. This was especially important as Chestermere’s population grew, and the demands on our police services became more complex. By ensuring that the RCMP had the resources to respond quickly to emergencies and maintain patrols throughout the city, we helped increase the overall feeling of safety in our neighborhoods.
Additionally, I advocated for a stronger community policing approach. Community policing focuses on building positive relationships between police officers and the residents they serve. Through this approach, officers become familiar with local issues, engage in regular dialogue with community members, and work collaboratively to address concerns. We supported programs that encouraged officers to be more involved in community events and initiatives, helping to bridge the gap between law enforcement and residents.
We also introduced initiatives to increase the visibility of police presence in neighborhoods, particularly in high-traffic areas and places where crime rates were historically higher. These measures helped deter crime and fostered a stronger sense of security among residents.
Mental Health and Crisis Response
One of the areas that I felt was crucial for enhancing public safety was improving the response to mental health crises. Mental health challenges are often a root cause of incidents involving law enforcement, and many police officers are the first responders to mental health emergencies. However, law enforcement officers are not always best equipped to handle these situations, which is why we worked to integrate mental health professionals into our emergency response system.
I worked with local healthcare providers and mental health organizations to create a more holistic approach to crisis intervention. We introduced a Mental Health Crisis Response Team (MHCRT) that paired trained mental health professionals with police officers when responding to individuals in crisis. This team helped de-escalate potentially dangerous situations, connect individuals to the appropriate mental health resources, and reduce the likelihood of criminal charges being filed in cases where the underlying issue was mental illness.
We also focused on creating a network of support services for individuals facing mental health challenges. From counseling and therapy to addiction recovery programs, we ensured that residents had access to the services they needed to address the root causes of their struggles, rather than just responding to symptoms. By addressing mental health proactively, we helped prevent many incidents that might otherwise have escalated into more serious situations.
Improving Emergency Services and Preparedness
Chestermere is a city with a rapidly growing population, and as the city expanded, so did the demands on our emergency services. Ensuring that our fire department, ambulance services, and emergency response teams had the resources and infrastructure to handle increased calls for service was essential.
We worked to upgrade emergency response infrastructure, ensuring that the fire department had the latest equipment and technology to respond to fires, medical emergencies, and accidents. We also made sure that Chestermere had adequate emergency medical services (EMS) coverage. This included expanding the fleet of ambulances and ensuring that paramedics were properly trained to handle a wide range of medical emergencies.
To further strengthen public safety, we focused on improving emergency preparedness and disaster response protocols. We worked to create a comprehensive emergency response plan that involved all relevant stakeholders, including the fire department, ambulance services, healthcare providers, and local government. This plan allowed us to respond more effectively to natural disasters, accidents, and other large-scale emergencies, ensuring the safety of residents in critical situations.
Additionally, we worked to create a community-wide emergency preparedness campaign, encouraging residents to prepare for emergencies by having kits, emergency plans, and communication strategies in place. A prepared community is a safer community, and by ensuring that residents were informed and ready, we increased the overall resilience of the city in times of crisis.
Promoting Crime Prevention and Community Engagement
While law enforcement plays a key role in ensuring public safety, crime prevention and community engagement are just as important. A safe community is one where residents feel empowered to take part in initiatives that reduce crime and improve quality of life.
I worked to promote crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles, which involve designing public spaces and residential areas in ways that reduce opportunities for crime. This included adding more lighting in high-traffic areas, improving visibility in parks and alleys, and encouraging neighborhoods to adopt community watch programs.
We also worked on initiatives that focused on youth engagement and diversion. Young people are often at a higher risk for involvement in criminal behavior, especially when they lack opportunities for positive activities or face social challenges. We developed programs that provided youth with after-school activities, mentorship, and job training, giving them the tools they needed to succeed and stay out of trouble.
Additionally, we worked to build stronger relationships between residents and local law enforcement. By organizing town halls, community meetings, and crime prevention workshops, we gave residents the opportunity to voice concerns, ask questions, and collaborate with police officers to create safer neighborhoods. When residents are actively engaged in crime prevention, they become part of the solution, helping to foster a stronger, more united community.
Addressing Substance Abuse and Addiction
Substance abuse and addiction are often linked to higher crime rates, as individuals struggling with these issues may engage in illegal activities to support their habits. We worked closely with local organizations to address substance abuse and addiction through prevention, education, and rehabilitation programs.
By supporting programs that provide treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery services, we helped individuals break free from the cycle of addiction and reduce the impact of substance abuse on crime in our community. Additionally, we worked to create awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of seeking help. Through education campaigns and partnerships with local healthcare providers, we provided residents with the resources they needed to combat addiction and make healthier choices.
Conclusion: A Safer Chestermere for All
Ensuring public safety is a multifaceted effort that requires collaboration, innovation, and dedication. During my time as mayor, I worked tirelessly to ensure that Chestermere remained a safe, secure, and welcoming community for all residents. By strengthening law enforcement, improving mental health and crisis response, enhancing emergency services, promoting crime prevention, and addressing substance abuse, we created a comprehensive approach to safety that helped to reduce crime, build trust between residents and police, and foster a more resilient community.
As Chestermere continues to grow, I am confident that the initiatives we implemented will continue to support the safety and wellbeing of all residents. Public safety is an ongoing commitment, and I am proud of the steps we took to make Chestermere a safer place to live, work, and raise a family.