On November 5, Calgary Police Service officers assembled in large numbers downtown for "Operation Order," targeting crime and social disorder. Officers from all city districts were briefed and deployed to patrol areas including East Village, Stephen Avenue, and Century Gardens.
These efforts respond to the public's growing concern that downtown Calgary is unsafe. Police Chief Katie McLellan highlighted a troubling six-year peak in violence directed at unhoused individuals, security staff, social workers, and law enforcement personnel.
“This is not just about statistics. It’s also about how people feel when they walk through our streets, ride transit or visit public spaces, everyone deserves to feel safe in their city, and this operation will save lives,” said Chief McLellan.
Chief McLellan emphasized that this operation is not a one-time crackdown. The police will continue these efforts, conducting debriefings and assessments to adapt their strategy as needed.
“Today just isn’t a one day blitz. We will continue to do this going forward after today, we will debrief, and we will assess, and we will reassess. This just isn’t one and done,” she stated.
As of 4:30 p.m., the operation was actively underway.
Author's summary: Calgary Police launched "Operation Order" to restore downtown safety, pledging ongoing action against rising violence and social disorder in the city core.