Edmonton police champion 'Heavy Users of Services' program

Bill spends many nights in a cinderblockholdingcell, countless more in the back in of an ambulance.

He had been homeless for years, sleeping on the streets or in shelters across Edmonton's west end. Often disorientedfrom long-undiagnosedmental health issues, encounters with police came all too often.

Bill, whose last name is being withheld bypolice for privacy reasons,is one client benefiting from a Edmonton Police Service program which helps break the cycle of crime and povertyfor some of the city's most at-risk offenders.

The `Heavy Users of Services' bringstogether 16 different agencies including government and not-for-profits to find a better way of dealing with their most chronic, complex clients;people who often suffer from addictions, mental health issues and homelessness.

The agencies identified the 15 people who encounter policemost often while relying heaviestonhealth and inner city services, before developingan individualized care plan that will be tracked for up to two years.

Sgt.Tracy Ward told CBC radio show Edmonton AM thatit gives police the chance to help break the cycle.

"Our members only have so many tools on their belt, they have limited time and resources that they can spend dealing with these people," Ward said.

The program, funded by the provincial government is part of the EPSViolence Reduction Program, was launched as a pilot last year.

Of 15 initial clients, 10 are currently housed. Withthe first round of clients becoming more stable, threenew clients have been selected for the program.

So far, the strategy has proved effective in reducing the strain on police resources of chronic clients.

For instance, one client had a staggering 186 encounters with EPS and Edmonton Transiton record in 2013, but after being enrolled in the program, that number plummeted to a mere 15.

For Staff Sgt.DerekMcIntyre,who has been involved with the project since the beginning,Bill's case is the one that stands out.

Now diagnosed with advanced dementia, Bill is being cared for at the Royal Alexandra. He has a warm bed, regular meals and soonwill have a place to call home.

When the beat cops, who know him well from his years on the street, got word of his progress, they got together and went to his hospital room for a visit.

"They collected a Tim Hortons cup of coffee for Bill, went in and the most important part of the visit with Bill was that he was willing to have them come into his room and visit, McIntyre said.

"It was a really a big day not only for those beat members, but Bill as well.

"We've come a long way with the empathy and compassion that we show toward vulnerable people. And that case just punctuated where we are as a police organization."