25 new officers as Calgary police expands Community Engagement Response Team – Calgary [Video]

Twenty-five new Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) officers are on Calgary streets in a continued effort to address social disorder in the city.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) team launched in April focusing on transit lines and high system users. Data shows the presence of the officers is working, with transit related social disorder calls from the public down 42 per cent.

The hope is to take a proactive approach, working alongside social service agencies to connect people with services and supports available for those experiencing homelessness and addiction.

“Once we’re sure there’s not criminality involved (in the call), the clinicians are able to step in and talk about their addiction or mental health issue,” explains Superintendent Scott Boyd with CPS.

Officers are assigned a district to allow them to build relationships with the high system users in that area, but there are a higher number of patrols on transit.

“Those kinds of crimes, social disorder …