Community & Prevention
These types of work units focus on a community policing approach
through prevention and reduction by addressing crime and disorder
Police and Community Engagement (PACE)
The Police and Community Engagement Program (PACE) is a major part of our Community Relations Section. PACE was established in 2018 with the intent to engage and build relationships with Indigenous, diverse, and emerging (Immigrant, Refugee, Temporary Foreign Worker) communities with the goals of:
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providing positive community engagement with culturally-diverse communities,
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reducing barriers to police and community interactions,
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increasing opportunities for proactive policing initiatives,
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supporting community engagement as a core element of policing activity, and
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encouraging the reporting of crime and victimization in culturally-diverse communities.
PACE team members are police officers drawn from various ranks throughout the organization. These officers are passionate about engaging with the community and do this work outside of their regular assigned duties. They have received in-depth training on topics such as vulnerability and empathy, bias awareness, Indigenous historic trauma, and anti-racism theory.
You will often see the PACE team at community events and presentations such as community barbecues, cultural celebrations and festivals, crime prevention events, or taking part in fitness and sporting events (Yes; EPS has a cricket team and while they may not be world champs- they are pretty fun to watch!).
Human-centred Engagement and Liaison Partnership Unit (HELP)
The HELP Unit, in partnership with Boyle Street Community Services, The Mustard Seed, Boyle McCauley Heath Centre, Native Counselling Services of Alberta, Bent Arrow, and George Spady Society, works collaboratively with our partners to off-ramp people to independence and sustained positive outcomes.
The Unit navigates individuals to the appropriate service providers before the community members get entrenched or caught up in one of our complex judicial systems. HELP focuses on those individuals at greatest risk for victimization and offending, and at greatest risk and harm to themselves, others, and the community as a whole.
HELP officially launched on January 4th, 2021. Learn more on the HELP unit.
Crime Prevention & Diversion
The Edmonton Police Service is known for community policing and violence reduction. A major part of this is preventing problems before they occur. This strategy of prevention, intervention, and suppression guides the EPS in its day-to-day activities.
A few examples of teams involved with this type of work include:
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Crime suppression and investigation
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Serious Crimes
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Diversion and desistance
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Social Delivery
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Young people support branch