Downtown

By Cheryl Jahn

Downtown

Downtown woes

Sep 26, 2019 | 3:36 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – It was a rare opportunity. A chance to accompany the RCMP into the underbelly of the downtown in the early morning hours. There’s a concerted effort by the RCMP and the City’s Bylaw Enforcement team to “get things moving,” according to Superintendent Shaun Wright of the Prince George Detachment.

Teams move throughout the downtown, hitting alleyways and vacant lots, rousing those sleeping under the cardboard, their belongings confined to a stolen shopping cart. They are the victims of homelessness, mental illness and addictions.

“Are you okay?” asks Constable Trevor Hurley of a young woman who, moments earlier, was prone on the sidewalk on Dominion Street. “You’re not hurt or anything? You just waiting for St. Vincent’s to open for breakfast?” The young woman responds she is, gathers up her belongings.

End of story.

But it’s just one of many stories in the downtown.

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“Our Downtown Safety Unit is comprised of six members,” explains Superintendent Shaun Wright of the Prince George Detachment. “We attempt to get out there every morning, early, around seven before the businesses open and try and get things moving.

It begs the question: Why?

“Well, we’ve received a lot of complaints as has the City both from patrons of that area and business owners of, really, their day-to-day activities being impeded or disturbed by individuals who have elected to set up camps on private property or occupy areas that aren’t public spaces.”

Back in the squad car, we travel into an alleyway behind the John Howard Society. The staff there have personally asked if the area could be checked and cleared because they are afraid for their safety. A trio is sitting at the back door are moved along.

“I don’t mind walking the back alleys, but people who aren’t used to it, ah, it infringes on their day. Their sense of security,” explains Cst. Hurley. But while the three have left, the true nature of what happens at that location is visible and disturbing. Spent needles, used alcohol wipes, small spoons to “cook” drugs and even human faeces. Cst. Hurley feels about 85 per cent of the troubles in the downtown are drug-related, while Supt Wright pegs it closer to 90 percent. We asked Supt. Wright whether he feels like he’s spinning his wheels. “No, I wouldn’t describe it that way,” he says, pausing at length after the question. “You know, society is fluid in nature and there are things that are going to carry on. There’s been crime since the beginning of time and there will be until the end. So I view it as we do our part to react to it and make society liveable and as safe as we can for the citizens.”

And the crew will go out again bright and early tomorrow morning to “make society liveable” one more day.