Hamilton police reinstate some downtown patrols after businesses voice safety concerns

Hamilton police say they have reinstated some downtown patrols amid concerns about public safety in the area from businesses.

Chief Frank Bergen told the Hamilton police services board Thursday that the force has brought back park and walks" to the core, a strategy that looks to see officers take time during their shifts to park their cruiser and stroll around the corridor.

The return of the strategy comes after a handful of stores and hotels put their concerns regarding safety in the downtown to the police board in the form of letters and in-person delegations over the last few months.

While management at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, Homewood Suites and Staybridge Suites all wrote separate communications to the board ahead of the May 25 meeting, each referenced similar issues in the core.

Colin Watson, general manager of the Sheraton, detailed 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 drinking, as well as worries for personal safety. Watson 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.

Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman previously told The Spectator that when looking at the wider area around the Sheraton - 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.

Guests and staff are worried about safety and feel scared going outside the hotel and walking in the area," wrote Watson. We are looking for help with the increased illegal activities and crimes around our business."

Tina Easto, general manager of Staybridge Suites, said that a person makes their way into the hotel from the street and causes havoc" for staff almost daily.

As a downtown business we should not have to lock our doors to the public out of fear and safety for our guests and of course our associates," wrote Easto.

Olivera Radisic, manager of Homewood Suites, said that staff and guests have dealt with abusive, aggressive and intimidating behaviour" from non-patrons.

That included an incident back in April in which a staff member was spat on when they asked a non-patron to leave their property as they were lingering near the side entrance, wrote Radisic.

While all three letters called on solutions from Hamilton police, including an increased presence of officers in the core, Radisic noted the need for solutions to come from city council.

We know that police presence in (the) downtown will not solve the problem," wrote Radisic. But it definitely will make our staff and our guests feel safer.'"

Bergen, however, described the reinstated park and walk" approach as a Band-Aid" solution to the crises the city is facing.

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.

Coun. Cameron Kroetsch told the police board that the concerns of the businesses are valid, however he noted that the challenges that are being raised are the results of two generations of neglect" from the government on mental-health supports and housing.

It's not going to be solved overnight," said Kroetsch. It's going to take every single person in our community, every single institution in our city to turn the issue around."

Board chair Pat Mandy called the nature of the concerns community-wide" issues, echoing Kroetsch on the need for community partnerships to address the root of the problems.

We are absolutely committed to working together," said Bergen. We will work with the councillors affected by this challenge to look at opportunities for us to turn this around."

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