‘No room for threats or violence:’ Calgary police say of downtown assaults

Outreach volunteers walk through the downtown offering help to the homeless on a -20C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Forty-five-year-old Amanda Robyn Ahenakew is set to appear in court April 16, charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of 73-year-old George Fernandez.

Fernandez was working as a security guard at Garden Towers on Seventh Avenue and Ninth Street S.W. on March 13, when he was pushed to the ground during a robbery, dying the next day from his injuries.

“There is no room for these types of threats or violence in our city,” said Calgary Police Service (CPS) Supt. Scott Boyd.

“These roles play an important part in helping identify areas of concern, and we value their contributions to creating safe public spaces.”

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Each month from July to December 2024, CPS data showed about 45 per cent of reported downtown assaults involved a security guard, loss prevention officer, shelter or health care staff member or a vulnerable person assaulted by another vulnerable person.

“We recognize that people in these roles are often in positions where they must deal with unpredictable situations, prior to police arrival,” said Boyd.

“We continue to work with our partners at the City of Calgary and with social agencies to support development and enhancement of training and protocols to improve safety for the public and the people working in these positions.”

Spec Ops Security Canada wasn’t Fernandez’ employer, but this and other cases across the country have them sounding the alarm.

A GoFundMe in Fernandez’s honour has raised more than $20,000.