Sheraton Hotel requests more police in downtown Hamilton due to ‘increased illegal activities’

A downtown Hamilton hotel is requesting assistance from police citing an increase in illegal activities" around its King Street West building.

Colin Watson, general manager of the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, wrote to the Hamilton Police Services Board earlier this month detailing an unprecedented" increase in the number of negative guest reviews, all pointing to experiences outside of the hotel.

Watson wrote that the concerns raised by guests include issues such as homelessness, drug use, theft, vandalism and open drinking as well as worries for personal safety.

He also alleged the hotel has experienced an increase in the number of break-ins in its underground parking lot and increased violence around the building, which sits between James and Bay streets.

Guests and staff are worried about safety and feel scared going outside the hotel and walking in the area," reads the letter, which is slated to be discussed at the May 25 police services board meeting. We are looking for help with the increased illegal activities and crimes around our business."

When reached by The Spectator, Watson confirmed the hotel is seeking support from police in the form of increased patrols in the downtown to address community safety concerns," but also to ensure visitors have a feeling like they are being looked after in a safe way."

The May 11 letter included several reviews from guests, with many of them noting how they felt unsafe in the downtown core and pointing to the presence of unhoused folks around the hotel.

The hotel itself was very nice, however the neighbourhood was terrible," read a review, dated April 20. We were harassed every time we stepped out of the hotel, and we did not feel safe at all."

Another review from April 5 read: Just how unfortunate how many homeless people are hanging around. I didn't feel I could safely walk anywhere."

In an email, Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman told The Spectator police have responded to 88 calls for service at the Sheraton since January.

Penman said when looking at the wider area around the hotel - spanning from Bay Street North to James Street South between York Boulevard to King Street East - there has been a 12 per cent increase in requests for police between January and April.

That number includes both 911 and non-emergency line calls, according to Penman.

We appreciate that people are not feeling safe in their community and their perception is important," said Penman. We are committed to working closely with our crime management team to address these emerging trends."

In the letter, Watson notes the hotel has had various communications" with Ward 2 Coun. Cameron Kroetsch as well as staff from Tourism Hamilton, but no further details are provided on those conversations.

Speaking to The Spectator, Kroetsch confirmed the Sheraton reached out to him with concerns, however, he noted that the colliding crises" are ones no individual councillor can solve."

Kroetsch said Hamilton is facing a growing crisis involving opioid overdoses, mental health and homelessness - all three of which the city recently declared separate state of emergencies on.

It doesn't seem like we have the suite of services that we need to adequately serve those who live here," he said, pointing to the need for safe-use drug spaces, 24/7 washrooms and affordable housing. There is no place for folks to go."

Kroetsch said while he is a member of the police board, as a councillor he is not there to direct the police service" in how they deploy officers. However, he's hopeful that through the letter sent to the board, the Sheraton will see its concerns addressed by Chief Frank Bergen.

The hotel is not the first downtown business to raise concerns surrounding safety in the core to the police board.

During a late April meeting, Denninger's Foods and G.W. Thompson Jeweller and Pawnbroker, both located on King Street East, brought forward their concerns regarding safety of staff as well as customers.

As reported by CBC Hamilton, both of the businesses requested a dedicated patrol officer for the core, however, those shops are located in a different downtown neighbourhood than the hotel.

In his letter, Watson wrote that the hotel is hopeful the force can come forward with a solution for the issues before it is too late for downtown businesses," alleging that hotels, restaurants and the convention centre are losing repeat businesses."

Penman said while the force continues to balance pressures" between staffing and increased demands on police, they are committed to ensuring workers, tourists and businesses are safe, and feel safe, under the current realities of our policing landscape."

Watson added that due to social media and the impact of the reviews, Hamilton could be seen as a destination in decline and not a safe place to visit, stay or do business."

We feel as the major tax payers of the downtown area we deserve some support especially when the whole city's reputation is at risk," Watson wrote.

In a statement to The Spectator, city spokesperson James Berry said businesses that feel public safety is a concern in their area are encouraged" to contact Hamilton police or bylaw, depending on the issue at hand.

It's important to the City of Hamilton that the public feel welcome and safe throughout our city," said Berry. We're committed to working with the community, including community organizations, businesses and police, to ensure that."

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com