By Lethbridge News Now (Aaron Mahoney)

citizens take on drug crisis

The Watch hits the streets in downtown Lethbridge

May 1, 2019 | 6:45 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – One of the new programs that the Lethbridge Police Service is rolling out to help deal with the drug crisis in downtown is now patrolling the streets.

Members of The Watch have completed their training, received their red uniforms and will be visible in the downtown starting Wednesday, May 1.

The Watch, modelled after similar programs in Winnipeg and Vancouver, was developed in Lethbridge to help deal with the drug crisis in the downtown, but also to help citizens on the streets with whatever problem they’re dealing with.

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Volunteers will be highly visible and easy to recognize with their red coats and shirts and Watch patrollers will be deployed seven days a week throughout the year.

LPS announced Jeff Hansen as Watch Manager at the beginning of April, and he says the program is looking to bring safety and security back to the downtown core.

“With The Watch, we’re the eyes and ears for LPS, fire and EMS, Social Services. Both the team leaders and volunteers will be out there providing that from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.”

All volunteers were provided comprehensive training including non-violent crisis intervention, street awareness and patrol safety tactics, CPR and First Aid, diversity awareness, citizen powers of arrest, report writing and note-taking, mental health awareness, occupational health and safety and more.

Hansen is confident that the team of volunteers and team leaders will do an excellent job at serving and improving the community of Lethbridge.

Watch volunteers will be connected directly to LPS by radio and will patrol downtown Lethbridge, from the river bottom to Mayor Magrath Drive South, and from 5th Ave North to 6th Ave South, in groups.

They will be responsible for reporting criminal activity, safety concerns, traffic hazards, nuisance behaviour, keeping a daily record of all incidents and events, and offering Safe Walk services.