SUBMITTED PHOTO - While there is no dedicated police foot patrol team downtown this summer, when police are not responding to priority calls they are doing foot patrols primarily in the downtown area. Police Chief Andy McGrogan (left) and Insp. Brent Secondiak walking on Second Street in the downtown core on Friday.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
While Medicine Hat Police Service will not have a dedicated foot patrol team this summer there will be a police presence on foot and bicycle.
Insp. Brent Secondiak says all police teams have been told that if they are not responding to priority calls they should spend time on foot patrol.
There will be specific target areas.
“Downtown and North Railway are primary areas,” said Secondiak noting there have even been some on bicycles.
Recently at least one police officer is assigned bicycle duty about five days in every 14 days, said Secondiak. Foot patrols though have been taking place every day.
Secondiak says police are aware of the increased traffic on trails and pathways as more families spend time out of doors during COVID and get some physical exercise, walking or on bicycles.
“We have been down there (trails) and will continue to be down there,” he said.
After several recent incidents of cyclists riding while in pedestrian crossings and being hit by vehicles, police are aware that some people are not getting the message about the bylaw that applies.
Secondiak says according to the bylaw someone on a bicycle is subject to all the obligations that someone operator a motor vehicle is. If they want to use a pedestrian crosswalk they need to dismount from the bicycle and walk across while pushing the bicycle.
Police on foot patrols are going to be paying attention to this and getting people to understand the importance of obeying this bylaw in the interests of safety, said Secondiak.
For police COVID-19 has meant some new priorities and changes to what would be a normal schedule in terms of training and programs. Some officers are currently in training and by the fall MHPS will be in a better position to return to some of the programs and routines the public has come to expect particularly over the summer months.
