Kudos to the decision makers at the Chatham-Kent Police Service for literally putting boots on the ground.
For the month of August, and hopefully into September and beyond, officers will walk the beat in downtown Chatham and Wallaceburg on Fridays and Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The effort works on multiple levels. First and foremost, it’s a crime deterrent. Someone considering breaking the law who sees a police officer or two in their area of ill intent will definitely reconsider such activity.
Second, the police presence is a reassuring sight for downtown business owners, employees and customers. Seeing officers present for people who don’t break the law is always reassuring.
There have been some strange goings on in the downtown over many months. A great deal of the blame is heaped upon our local homeless population.
Very convenient, but not always true, for sure.
Regardless, police officers will be more approachable by the public when walking the beat. They’ll also be engaging, seeking out people with which to converse. The dialogue can be mutually beneficial, with information and trust exchanged.
Too often, a member of the public’s encounter with police take place while the citizen is at a low point, whether they are a victim of crime or someone being arrested for a crime. It’s all business and all they see is the badge.
But there are people behind the badge. Having a chance for a conversation without tension reveals police are just average citizens with a challenging job to do.
In terms of crime deterrence, downtown illicit drug use should be curtailed, at least during the beat-walking hours. Same with break-ins, dine and dash attempts, shoplifting, and potentially impaired driving. If someone who has enjoyed one too many glasses of wine with dinner walks out of a downtown restaurant and spots an officer nearby, it could spur the person to grab a cab rather than attempt to drive while impaired.
And Lord knows impaired driving charges are plaguing Chatham-Kent ever since the pandemic.
There is great potential for good to come out of cops walking the beat, and we really don’t see any downside, except perhaps when there is a need for massive police presence elsewhere during an emergency situation.
