New police officers headed to high-crime areas

Halifax Regional Police now has 21 new officers to patrol areas that have made headlines for shootings and swarmings.

The new recruits were sworn in Thursday at a ceremony in Dartmouth. They'll graduate officiallyfrom the force's in-house police program on Friday.

The officers will patrol in downtown and west-end Halifax, and north-end Dartmouth, areas singled out because of concerns with violent crime, drugs and theft.

"We've been trying to deal with what we see as a slow, emerging violent crime problem," said police Chief Frank Beazley. "It's been going on for 10 years now.

"Through the community response model, through more officers on the street, we're going to be able to have a positive impact on that."

The new officers will patrolsmall districts by foot, bicycle and car.

Beazley said that if police make more of an effort to know the people in their community, residents will be more at ease, which in turn makes the area safer.

Gloria Hussey, who has lived innorth-end Dartmouth for more than nine years, agrees but also said sheexpects it will take time.

"I know for a fact that people are grateful that they're here because this is what we need," Hussey said.

The police force is also trying to project a new image, one that's diverse and inclusive. There are five women and four visible minorities among the 21 new officers.

Diversity goes hand-in-hand with community policing, said Const. Ray Turner, who's black.

"Youwill find that if youdo go to certain communities that certain people will want to talk to you based on a visible aspect," he said.