cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Police in Medicine Hat are trying to limit the number of people they hold in their cellblock, but say the safety of the general public is always considered when determining who is put in or remains in custody.
Insp. Brent Secondiak told the News on Tuesday that the service has revamped how it deals with drunk or disorderly calls – essentially ending ‘drunk tank’ operations – meaning some suspects are released into the care of relatives to sober up, or held outside of cells for several hours.
In more serious matters, a change in general booking procedures means that some with certain warrants move directly to the Provincial Remand Centre, rather than entering the local station for processing.
Those facing violent offences move more quickly to a bail hearing, after which they are housed, or monitored in the community, depending on the outcome.
That is in response to coronavirus pandemic and the need to keep those in custody physically separated, but files are still being dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
“It’s about minimizing the number of people that we have in cells,” said Secondiak. “When we’re concerned – if we feel there is a risk to the public – then we take it to the bail hearing and let the (regular) process decide.”
Bail hearings can result in police housing the person in cells, or see them released on conditions that unfailingly require them to be on good behaviour among other restrictions.
Prisoners who display symptoms could be taken to the hospital and kept under guard there, said Secondiak, though that has not been necessary.
Keeping prisoners segregated or on best behaviour can be difficult at the best of times, and to increase the population now could exacerbate tension.
In general, the service is employing increased sanitation practices at the facility and some other measures.
Secondiak told the News that general police work is continuing, and the force is dealing with an increased number of shoplifting violations – to the point where cruisers have been parked in front of some stores to dissuade criminal activity.
As well, the number of domestic violence calls fielded by police are now increasing, he said, after they had been in decline since March when COVID restrictions put more people off work and calls to remain home more often were instituted.
Generally, calls for disturbances involving alcohol are lower than police predicted, potentially due to bar closures, but could increase again with warm weather.
So far a large number of bylaw complaints have dealt with noise after hours.
“People are stuck inside and when they get outside, the volume goes up a bit,” said Secondiak, stating the situation is not remarkably different from other years.
“It’s a spring issue, not a COVID issue.”
Other typical warm weather calls are on the increase, including complaints about loud vehicles, especially motorcycles.
