Lessons learned. Calgary police say new enforcement effort on CTrains in the works

Calgary police say they understand people don't feel safe at CTrains stations and are promising a major enforcement effort starting in September, building on their first system-wide blitz this month.

For four days leading up to Stampede, undercover officers tracked drug deals at the stations. Working with the undercover officers and Transit peace officers, uniformed police then managed to lay 86 criminal charges, mostly for drug trafficking. 

They also executed 327 warrants, served 216 summons, recovered three stolen bikes, interrupted a robbery in progress, reversed four overdoses and seized $30,000 worth of drugs (crack cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, gabapentin, psilocbin and ketamine).

Police did not lay charges for simple drug possession.

The sheer numbers surprised Insp. Scott Todd, who oversaw the blitz.

"For us, that was a little unexpected," he said. "Going forward into the fall, you'll see more operations similar to this one. We're trying to identify the most effective times, the most effective locations."

Todd said the effort focused on finding better ways for police and transit security to play to each other's strengths — peace officers with their in-depth knowledge of the players on the platform and police with their increased legal mandate to arrest and prosecute. That will help, he said.

"I ride the train at times, like many people that have been in (CBC Calgary's transit safety) articles. I understand it. I understand the feeling of not feeling safe at times," he said. "It's very, very unfortunate that's what patrons of the transit system feel."

On Tuesday, city council will get an update on the new Calgary Transit security efforts. This is in addition to the new police efforts. According to a report released in advance of the meeting, Transit plans to boost the number of peace officers by 25 per cent, to 141 from 113.

But that will take some time because some of those existing 113 jobs are vacant. Transit is in hiring mode and will need 25 weeks to train each new officer. 

Transit is also planning to hire 31 dedicated transit security guards, who will have 13 weeks of training and more responsibility than the current contracted civilian guards.

"Currently, the contracted guards are a visual deterrent," said Transit spokesman Stephen Tauro. "The Transit security guards will have better training. They'll be highly skilled guards with a little bit more authority than the contracted guards. They will be equipped to handle removal of unwanted individuals if there are issues and safety concerns."

"They also will be in direct contact with peace officers," said Tauro.

The report to council says transit is also increasing the number of inspectors, sergeants and dispatchers. The increased staff will cost about $6 million per year.