Fredericton Officials Urgently Seek Help Amid Public Safety Crisis

URGENT UPDATE: Fredericton city officials are sounding alarms over escalating mental health and homelessness challenges, emphasizing the need for immediate support from higher levels of government. During a public safety open house on October 11, 2023, Mayor Kate Rogers declared, “We can’t police our way out of this,” highlighting the city’s limitations in addressing root causes of these pressing issues.

With a community audience of approximately 75 attendees, including 15 police officers and city councillors, the discussion focused on a series of public safety initiatives and the recently unveiled 47 recommendations from a community safety task force. Most of these recommendations fall under the jurisdiction of provincial and federal governments, leaving the municipal government struggling to tackle the crisis alone.

“As a community, you shouldn’t care whose jurisdiction is what,” stated Chief Administrative Officer Steve Hart. He added, “You should just care that you’re getting good services and that you feel safe.” The urgency of the situation is clear: Fredericton cannot improve public safety without tackling the larger socioeconomic issues plaguing its residents.

The city has introduced measures including increased trail lighting and a new community safety services unit—a squad of security officers patrolling vulnerable areas. Additionally, a security camera registration program has successfully registered 194 cameras to enhance surveillance.

However, Hart cautioned that these efforts, while essential, will not yield substantial improvements without adequate mental health and addiction support systems in place. “Boosting police staffing or adding more trail lighting will not address the core issues,” he warned. “We need regular and frequent access to mental health supports and housing solutions across the province.”

Police Chief Gary Forward echoed these sentiments, outlining the challenges faced by law enforcement when responding to individuals with severe mental health issues. “We cannot solve somebody’s addiction in a five-minute conversation,” he stated, emphasizing the complexity of the problems they encounter.

Since the creation of a dedicated unit for handling less urgent police matters in February, the department has logged over 1,400 files, allowing frontline officers to focus on more critical incidents. Forward described this progress as “a step in the right direction,” but acknowledged the ongoing difficulties in achieving comprehensive public safety.

During a heated Q&A session, residents expressed concerns about the apparent contradiction between the city’s call for external assistance and its decision to increase funding for local safety initiatives. In response, Rogers affirmed the necessity for the council to act within its authority while clearly delineating responsibilities across government levels.

Forward added, “The taskforce’s recommendations are not a ‘fantasy’ that will solve every problem, but we are making steps in the right direction.”

As Fredericton grapples with these pressing challenges, the call for collaboration from higher governmental bodies is more urgent than ever. The city is actively seeking solutions to ensure that all residents feel safe and secure in their communities.

Stay tuned for further developments as this critical situation unfolds.