Two Pleasant Hill residents spoke to the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners on Thursday urging them to consider two Alternative Response Officers for their neighbourhood.  Ruth Reimer urged the board to respond to the disproportionately high crime rates that make the streets of Pleasant Hill unsafe for the children and families who live there. She told them that Grade 7 and 8 students took a look at crime rates in Pleasant Hill and surrounding areas and Fairhaven has actually experienced a decrease in violent crimes since the emergency shelter opened its doors. She says, “You responded to their middle-class voice and deployed AROs to their community. Riversdale is also very hard hit and you have deployed AROs there.”  Reimer believes Pleasant Hill needs AROs for a more preventative approach to policing.

The Saskatoon Police Service budget had already been approved by the Board of Police Commissioners, but after a government announcement, some tweaks were suggested.  The province announced funding in Saskatoon and Regina for two 30-bed emergency shelters and a 15-bed shelter for those with complex needs so another $200,000 was announced to add more Alternative Response Officers.

A report to the board recommended a match in funding of $200,000 for five AROs, which was approved.  Chief Troy Cooper expects the neighbourhoods where the shelters end up will be impacted by an increase in social disorder calls and related events, and AROs would be appropriate for to deal with any situations which arise.
Originally, the thought was to bring on six instead of five, but Cooper says if they added any more costs, they didn’t feel they would be able to absorb them.

Alternative Response Officers’ responsibilities range from community engagement and education to enforcement and assisting in investigations.