Calgary’s mayor wants to explore the possibility of bringing a police station back to the downtown core, after the last one closed several years ago.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas said Monday he is introducing a motion to explore the feasibility of opening a downtown police station.
“Calgary is the only major city without a downtown station and having this station reopen in our downtown is an essential first step to making Calgary’s downtown as safe as possible, not just for residents, but also for businesses and those people who work downtown,” Farkas told reporters Monday.
The motion is sponsored by 11 council members. It calls for city officials to start investigating which city-owned downtown properties would make the most sense for a police station, and the potential costs of building and operating a new facility.
(Brendan Coulter/CBC)
The announcement comes as the Calgary Police Service (CPS) prepares to deliver its 2025 annual report to city council on Tuesday. According to the report, violent crime was 16 per cent above the five-year average in 2025, with assaults accounting for 68 per cent of all reported violent crimes.
According to police statistics, the downtown experiences one of the highest rates of violent crime compared to other Calgary neighbourhoods.
“We know that our downtown core is disproportionately impacted as far as violent incidents, social disorder, other issues,” Farkas said.
During his time as Ward 11 councillor, Farkas advocated for the reopening of the Victoria Park police station at 334 11th Ave. S.W., which closed in 2017.
CPS currently operates a downtown community counter on Sixth Avenue, but it does not operate as a full police station, instead providing a space for members of the public to report non-emergency police matters.
Farkas said he envisions the new station as being a combination of “enforcement and compassion,” combining police services with community support.
He also said the city would explore opportunities for partnerships with private organizations, non-profits, or the provincial and federal governments.
Councillor wants station to replace Drop-In Centre
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean told reporters Monday he would like to see a new station go in place of the Calgary Drop-In Centre.
Some council members and business owners have already been pressuring the shelter to leave the East Village, citing concerns over increased crime and social disorder.
“If you saw a police station right there, you watch how this area would become much more clean, more safe. Investment will come pouring into East Village,” McLean told CBC News on Monday.
McLean added that a downtown police station would help improve efficiency, as officers would not have to drive outside the downtown core for processing.
But Ward 7 Coun. Myke Atkinson, who represents the downtown, isn’t backing the motion.
While he supports more police resources, Atkinson said he’s not sure how he will vote on the proposal.
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean says he would like to see a police station go in place of the Drop-In Centre in the downtown core. (Ose Irete/CBC)
“Buildings don’t deliver safety. Police officers do,” he said.
Farkas said council will explore the best option for a location, whether it involves repurposing an existing building or building a brand new one.
“I don’t want to pre-suppose an outcome,” he said. “We need to engage closely with the community in terms of what the most appropriate location would look like.”
The motion will go through a technical review at a council committee meeting next month.