ARTICLES

Every year on September 10th, people in over 50 countries connect to work together to prevent suicide. World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an opportunity to promote understanding about suicide and this year’s theme is Working Together to Prevent Suicide.

Medicine Hat has been tragically impacted by several recent deaths and this message marks the importance of communities coming together to recognize the impact of suicide and to strive to prevent it.

The last few months have been incredibly difficult for everyone, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. Connection to others is so important to all of us so let’s all make an effort to reach out to someone –a close family member, a friend, or even a stranger –check in to see how they are doing and listen supportively to what they have to say.

Remember that you don’t have to have all the answers. There are several professional resources available to you or someone you love who is struggling, including:

Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642

Kids Help Phone Text CONNECT or call 1-800-668-6868

Distress Centre 403-266-HELP (4357)

Alberta Crisis Text Line – Text CONNECT to 741741

Health Link at 8-1-1

If you are in crisis, connect with your healthcare professional or call 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.

A silent vigil is planned for tonight at Riverside Veterans Memorial Park starting at 6:00 PM. Canadian Mental Health will be attendance with resources. Attendees may decorate a white paper bag to honour a loved one or leave a message for someone who is struggling. If you are unable to attend you can light a candle or leave a porch light on at home to show your support.

We are stronger together Medicine Hat! Let’s come together as a community with compassion and understanding to help each other today and everyday.

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay #YouMatter #StrongerTogether #WSPD2020MH

An assortment of drugs and weapons were seized after ALERT searched a rural residence outside Medicine Hat. Five people were arrested.

Nine firearms and an estimated $21,000 worth of drugs and cash were seized from an acreage property in Cypress County, east of Medicine Hat. ALERT Medicine Hat’s organized crime team searched the home on September 4, 2020, with the help of Medicine Hat Police Service and Redcliff RCMP.

ALERT seized the following:

• 80 grams of methamphetamine;

• 46 grams of cocaine;

• 20 grams of fentanyl;

• 31 grams of psilocybin mushrooms; and

• $7,035 cash.

Alongside the drugs, ALERT seized nine firearms, three crossbows, and several other prohibited weapons.

“ALERT’s policing model allows us to work with our partner agencies to address complex organized crime threats in communities big and small, urban and rural,” said Insp. Sean Boser, ALERT Regional Teams.

Five people have been charged with a variety of criminal offences related to drugs and firearms:

• Denver Ailsby, a 41-year-old man from Medicine Hat;

• Amanda Memme, a 48-year-old woman from Calgary;

• Keith McVittie, a 50-year-old man from Calgary;

• Pamela Drozdowski, a 68-year-old woman from Cypress County; and

• Tameka Hazelaar, a 26-year-old woman from Medicine Hat.

McVittie and Memme were also charged with a number of breach of recognizance offences, which stem from a previous ALERT investigation that transpired in May 2020.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous. Medicine Hat residents can also submit tips anonymously through the Medicine Hat Police Service mobile app, which is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser

Medicine Hat Organized Crime Team

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)

403-529-8425

The Medicine Hat Police Service is pleased to announce the formation of a new permanent uniformed Downtown Patrol Unit (DPU). The unit was formed to address public behaviour concerns and increase the feeling of safety for residents and businesses in the area.

Beginning in mid-October of 2020 the DPU will patrol an area including North Railway to 3^rd Avenue SE, River Road SE to the SE Hill, with specific attention on the downtown core. The unit will consist of two constables and a supervisor who will provide an increased police presence in the area.

Hours for the DPU have been scheduled to maximize public safety during peak business hours. The primary objectives of the DPU will be to create a safer environment and enhance the feeling of safety, and to provide addiction services through an integration with the Addictions Crisis Team (ACT) in the Downtown Core through a combination of, presence, stewardship and enforcement.

In addition, the DPU will be expected to carry out key activities including; foot patrols, partnership building, relationship building, traffic enforcement, licensed premise and security checks, calls for service and mental health intervention.

The anticipated outcome of this unit will be a reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour, increased feeling of safety and enhanced community relationships with the Service. unit will be augmented by members of the MHPS School Resource Unit during the summer months in 2021.

Media Contact:
Insp. Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8410

The Medicine Hat Police Service has partnered with Bike Index and is encouraging cyclists to register their bikes.

Bike Index is a non-profit, online bike registry to prove ownership, alert the community if a bike has been stolen, search a found bicycle to identify its owner and help police return recovered bicycles to their rightful owners as soon as possible. Similar partnerships with the Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge Police Services have proven to be effective.

Bike Index enables owners to create a free account and in just a few minutes their bike is registered. Owners can create an account at BikeIndex.org, including the bike’s serial number, make, model, and colour. A photo can be added as well as additional details like aftermarket parts and other distinguishing features.

Once a bike is registered a Bike Index sticker, each with a unique code can be picked up at the MHPS or by attending Gravity Sports or CyclePath bike shops in Medicine Hat. In addition, MHPS officers will be handing out stickers on September 12, 2020 from 10 AM to 2 PM in the parking lot of the MHPS Annex building, across from the police station (884 2^nd Street SE). Social distancing protocols will be in effect. Please note: bike owners do not need to physically bring their bike to the station to register on Bike Index. A photo, physical description (make/model/distinguishing characteristics) and serial number are all that are required.

Owners can scan the sticker’s code with a smartphone camera and link to their bike. Bike Index stickers are made of a strong, weather-resistant material and are extremely difficult to remove. They help serve as a deterrent for potential bike thieves by showing the bike is being watched by the entire community and the owner can be identified by simply scanning the code.

If a registered bike goes missing, the owner can log on and mark it as lost or stolen. When the bike is recovered, the code can be scanned and the owner contacted. If a bike wasn’t registered before it went missing, the owner can still create an account and mark it as stolen.

In addition to registering with Bike Index, citizens are also reminded to safeguard their bikes by taking steps to help reduce the risk of theft.

On average, each year the MHPS receives 150 reports of bikes stolen, with only 15-20 of those returned to the owner. However the total number of recovered bikes each year is in excess of 200 which suggests thefts are under reported. The MHPS currently has a number of recovered bikes in our compound located on the east side of the annex building located across from the station at 884 2^nd Street SE. Anyone whose bike has been stolen is encouraged to attend the station and take a look. If you observe your bike, call 403-529-8479 during business hours to speak to a Property Clerk. Bikes are held for a minimum of 30 days then sent to auction.

While there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of theft, police advise cyclists to always use a good lock – a U-lock is recommended. Lock your wheels and frame together, use a designated bike rack as sign poles, trees, fences, etc. are not as secure, lock bikes in well-lit, well-traveled areas, when possible do not leave a locked bike on a public street overnight and at home secure your bike – locked up if possible – in a locked garage or shed.

If your bike is stolen report it to police online at www.mhps.ca, via the MHPS mobile app or by calling 403-529-8481.

Media Contact:

Insp Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8412

At 1329hrs on September 3rd, 2020, a moped driven by a 35-year old Medicine Hat woman was northbound in the outside lane of South Railway St SE approaching the 5th St SE intersection. The moped abruptly changed lanes into the inside lane and collided with the passenger side of a northbound Ford F450 truck towing an unloaded flat deck trailer.

The resulting collision with the vehicle and the road surface resulted in substantial injuries to the 35-year old female driver of the moped. The female rider was flown to Calgary by EMS with serious life-threatening injuries. No injuries occurred to the driver of the Ford F450. The MHPS Traffic Unit is investigating the collision and their investigation is on-going. Operating any vehicle requires the utmost attention at all times, especially on “small vehicles” including mopeds, motorcycles, power bicycles and mobility aids. The MHPS remains committed to ensuring all small vehicles are safe and operated appropriately on our roadways.

The MHPS offers our sincerest hopes that the female driver of the moped will recover from her injuries.   

On August 31, 2020 at approximately 8:30 PM, members of the Medicine Hat Police (MHPS) were called to a residence located in the 0 hundred block of 3 Street NE following a report of persons breaking into a residence and assaulting the occupants. The altercation resulted in minor injuries to two persons and the persons responsible for the incident fled the scene prior to police arrival.

At this time there is no general public safety risk as this appears to have been an isolated and targeted incident. The MHPS Major Crime Section will be continuing the investigation.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 -222-8477 (TIPS). Tips may also be submitted (anonymously if preferred) thru the MHPS Mobile App, which is free and available to download for both Apple and Android devices by searching ‘Medicine Hat Police Service’ on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Media Contact:

Acting S/Sgt. Adam Gregory
Major Crime Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-594-0520

 

On the evening of August 31^st at about 11:13 pm the Medicine Hat Police along with other emergency personnel attended to the scene of a single vehicle motor vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada highway and the Kin Coulee Dip. The investigation caused both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway to be shut down for several hours. All three occupants of the vehicle were injured in the crash, one of which was the driver. One of the passengers was transported to Calgary with what is considered to be serious non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is still ongoing at this time, and it is believed that that the driver was impaired at the time of the collision.

UPDATE / HIGHWAY OPEN - The Trans Canada Highway is now open. Both the eastbound and westbound lanes are once again open to traffic. Thank you for your cooperation.

UPDATE - We have now closed down both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the Trans Canada Highway at the Kin Coulee Dip. Please be advise that all traffic is being re-routed.  Updates to follow.

Be advised there is a motor vehicle collision on the westbound lane of the Trans Canada Highway at the Kin Coulee Dip causing traffic delays and lane closures. The Highway is currently closed at the Trans Canada Highway at College Ave. Please avoid the area while the investigation continue.