Targeted enforcement, proactive patrolling reducing violent crime: Edmonton police
Posted October 14, 2026 11:27 am.
Last Updated October 14, 2026 12:39 pm.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) says its ongoing “Safer Edmonton” initiative is continuing to reduce crime and disorder across the city.
Launched in May, the initiative deploys patrol officers to “Crime Treatment Zones” created based on crime trends and community concerns.
According to EPS, the Downtown Branch Crime Treatment Zone saw average crime severity decrease by 13.6 per cent between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026, compared to the same period last year.
Calls to 911 calls dropped by 7.6 per cent while officer-initiated calls went up by 42.5 per cent. The number of calls reporting disorderly conduct to the Downtown Branch dropped by five percentage points compared to the last two years, accounted for about half of all the calls received.
“These trends continue to suggest what we expected: concentrated reactive and proactive enforcement, along with prevention and support from our partners, is helping us focus resources on the people, places and issues that are driving the crime and disorder in central Edmonton,” said EPS Police Operations Chief Devin Laforce.
James Robinson, executive director of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, said that businesses were reporting a positive change throughout the summer.
“The officers’ visible presence, accessibility, and engagement with businesses, visitors, and vulnerable individuals helped strengthen public confidence,” Robinson said
Laforce said the EPS will expand the approach to the parts of the city while continuing coverage for the downtown core areas.
More police presence is expected in Stony Police Road are in west Edmonton. The West Branch has already seen 17 per cent reduction in violent crime so far this year, which the EPS attributes to the proactive policing measures.
“Stony Plain Road has been an ongoing concern for crime, disorder and drug use, particularly in and around Butler Park, which serves as a major transit hub for the area,” Trevor Bohachyk, inspector in the EPS West Division, said.
Bohachyk added that police have been increasing their coverage in the area and that they hoped to similar results as the downtown core.
EPS Chief Warren Dreichel attributed the improvements to officers building relationships with community members in order to address public safety concerns.
“While we can’t lose sight of the challenges that remain, these results demonstrate the impact that sustained focus and action have on public safety,” Dreichel added.
