Calgary boosts downtown bylaw officers

Twenty-five more officers will be patrolling downtown Calgary to enforce city bylaws covering things like panhandling and graffiti.

The new peace officers have been added to the city's animal and bylaw services department, it was announced at a news conference Tuesday, and they will join police in covering the downtown beat.

They will patrol in vehicles, on foot and on bicycles through the centre city, including along rivers and in parks, said the city Tuesday. The officers enforce bylawsthat ban littering and spitting, fighting or urinating in public.

"We are responding to the request of our citizens to bring more resources into the downtown to enhance safety and make the area more welcoming forthose who live here and for visitors," said Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier.

"These officers bring more visibility to the centre city in terms of a uniformed presence to deter criminal and unacceptable behaviour, as well as being in place to act when that behaviour occurs."