The Medicine Hat Police Service wants funding for two additional police officers. (Photos: Pattison Media)

By Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat’s ask for provincial cash to fund extra police officers remains ‘under review’

Sep 13, 2024 | 9:07 AM

The Alberta government is still reviewing the City of Medicine Hat’s request for extra funding to hire two more police officers, a spokesperson told Pattison Media this week.

City council made the funding ask in June, pointing out a disparity in provincial funding between the Medicine Hat Police Service and its counterparts in Calgary, Edmonton and Coaldale.

“A request from the City of Medicine Hat for additional police officers is currently under review by the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement Wednesday.

Medicine Hat has experienced similar challenges to what other cities have, including homelessness, drug addiction, and mental health issues impacting public safety, Mayor Linnsie Clark wrote in a letter asking for the extra cash.

The letter was sent after a request by Chief Alan Murphy, who told council more officers are needed to manage rising costs and service demands for community safety.

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“We’ve seen a similar proportion of issues in our city related to mental health and addictions,” Murphy said.

READ: City of Medicine Hat to ask Alberta for more police funding

Just because the other cities are larger, it doesn’t mean that Medicine Hat isn’t facing the same types of issues, the chief said while answering questions from council.

In August and September of last year, additional police officers were added to the Downtown Patrol Unit, but in different shifts and by utilizing overtime pay, Murphy said.

The police service made the move discreetly to see if there was a positive impact.

“What we heard back from the business owners was comments to us saying ‘we don’t know what you’re doing, but we can see a difference’,” Murphy said.

“Asking for two officers doesn’t sound like much but it’s proportionate to the size of our city we have and according to what the other cities have received,” the chief added.

“So, we asked for support of council to advocate to the provincial government…on our behalf.”

The police is asking for the extra funding in Medicine Hat’s 2025-26 budget in case the province does not give the cash, according to Murphy.

Ongoing city budget deliberations continue in October.

Medicine Hat residents reported a seven per cent decrease in the feeling of safety since 2021, according to a community safety survey that ran in the fall of 2023.

There was a significant increase in residents feeling uncomfortable downtown, according to the survey.

Despite receiving a fixed amount since 2018, the city’s population has grown and policing costs have increased, the city said in the letter.

Council approved the letter, dated June 4, unanimously.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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