The Alberta Avenue district is home to distinct policing groups.

The northwest branch patrol is a 24/7 service in the Alberta Avenue area that patrols and responds to calls. According to the Edmonton Police Service’s (EPS) website for Community Policing, this service is provided to residents north of 118 Avenue and west of 97 Street to the city limits, and also encompasses the area between 111 Avenue and 127 Avenue from 121 Street east to the LRT tracks by Commonwealth Stadium. The goal is to increase public safety by establishing partnerships with area residents and businesses, amongst other strategies such as maintaining a strong visible police presence.

“Alberta Avenue also has a dedicated beat team presence mostly along 118 Avenue, which is comprised of two teams working a set schedule of daytime and evening shifts,” states Cheryl Voordenhout, media relations adviser with EPS.

This team provides beat constables as the primary contact for communities wanting to address issues and concerns not requiring immediate police response. The team generates and shares intelligence about active criminals, crime, and other community concerns to the community through word of mouth, social media, and news.

The crime suppression team steps up in times of increased crime and disorder and are a citywide resource. Voordenhout explains they monitor “emerging issues and crime trends and deploys extra resources as needed. In the case of AB Ave/95 St corridor, the Crime Suppression Team worked with NW Beats as well as police analysts to identify crime trends in the area and then assign a roving team to make daily patrols in the area as needed, and as priority allowed.”

Part of the crime suppression team’s role is attending or organizing community meetings. One example is Coffee with Cops, an event hosted by Arts on the Ave and The Carrot Coffeehouse.

“Additionally, a crime suppression team lead works directly in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood facilitating larger crime reduction initiatives,” says Voordenhout.