London Police Service opens new Community Foot Patrol office

LPS Community Foot Patrol office opens Will the grand opening of the LPS Foot Patrol office be enough to quell concerns from people downtown? Gerry Dewan explains.

Just a few hours before London Police Service (LPS) was to open a new Community Foot Patrol Unit location at 183 Dundas St. came word of a stabbing nearby, with a man taken to hospital with what was believed to be a non-life-threatening injury.

Police said the goal is to prevent, rather than to have to investigate, incidents like this.

Acting LPS Chief Trish McIntyre believes a greater presence in the downtown can help police take that step and also bringing some piece of mind to those who work and spend time in the downtown.

"Just to see the officers in and out with some greater frequency,” said McIntyre. “To see them in the area with maybe greater frequency gives everyone, maybe, that sense of calm."

The unit is staffed by 22 members – three supervisors and 19 front-line officers – who patrol on both foot and bike throughout the year.

Heroes is a comics and collectibles store, which sits directly opposite the foot patrol hub location on Dundas Street. Owner Brahm Wisemen is hopeful it will have a positive impact.

"It will be nice to have easily available police when needed and [have them] surveying the street,” he said.

What Wiseman is really looking for is services that will help vulnerable individuals suffering from mental health issues and addictions, and told CTV News London, "There is a mental health problem and an addiction problem and this is not necessarily the job of the police.”

“There are people dying on the street every day. We need help down here because people are sick and ill on the street,” emphasized Wisemen, “They need somewhere to go and need help."

McIntyre agreed and said, “We need the wrap-around care for our most vulnerable and we’ve seen that year, over year, over year. That how we’re treating them, how we’re wrapping around to support them isn’t working and so now the pivot.”

McIntyre stresses a police presence can only be part of the solution, but still an important part.

“As strategies continue to develop to deal with those issues the foot patrol will play a vital role in ensuring people get the care they need,” she said.

"If someone needs clothing. If someone needs a meal, stuff like that, a blanket if they're sleeping in an alcove. We want to be out here and be visible,” said Sgt. Michael Pottruff.

Pottruff was part of the foot patrol team as a constable 10 years ago, and has been part of the leadership group for Community Foot Patrol Unit for the last five years. He said being able to take statements and do paper work in the downtown office will mean less time spent going back and forth between headquarters located at 601 Dundas St., near Adelaide Street, in the Old East Village.

He said that will result in more time maintaining a presence in the core, "When you get on foot patrol, you're literally down here. You're walking on a sidewalk interacting with people.”

As a long-time downtown business owner, Wiseman believes strongly that the entire city benefits from a vibrant downtown.

"Support the businesses down here,” he said. “Support the restaurants and theatres and all that sort of thing and let’s come down and makes this an exciting place to be."

The new foot patrol office opens as city hall moves toward committing an additional $4 million to hire 20 additional officers for the police service.