The Regina Police Service, like the rest of our city, is preparing to do its part in hosting the 101st Grey Cup celebrations. The Regina Police Service is committed to providing a safe environment and maintaining high quality service. The Regina Police Service has been working closely with partners and stakeholders in sharing information and preparing a multi-layered public safety response to the Festival and Grey Cup Game.
The Regina Police Service, along with other security and safety planners, began preparing for the 101st Grey Cup Festival in February, 2012. Since then, RPS has been working closely with about 60 other Grey Cup Festival Volunteer Safety and Security Committee members from municipal, provincial and federal agencies. These include: Emergency Medical Services (EMS); Regina Fire and Protective Services (RFPS); City of Regina Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity; City Services; professional and volunteer security representatives; Grey Cup Festival event planners; other federal, provincial and municipal public safety agencies and, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In planning for Grey Cup, the Regina Police Service has aligned its resources to have an optimum number of police officers and civilian staff in place to meet the safety needs of the Festival and ensure that regular service delivery is maintained. The Regina Police Association has been a supportive planning partner and has worked closely with the Grey Cup Planning Committee and RPS Executive in establishing appropriate staffing levels to accommodate expansion of policing services during the Festival. Throughout the five-day Festival, we are prepared to have upwards of 160 additional police officers on-duty if required.
From Wednesday, November 20th, until Saturday, November 23rd, the RPS will police our city including the Festival. On Grey Cup game day, Sunday, if required, additional police resources from the RCMP, including their public order team, may be deployed in addition to the Regina Police Service Crowd Control Unit, if required. Residents and visitors will see a very visible police presence throughout the city and at all official Grey Cup events to ensure public safety and a sense of overall security.
The Regina Police Service will continue to work closely with the Festival organizers to provide regular communication about Festival events. The Regina Police Service has boosted the Service’s Social Media footprint on Twitter with the following accounts:
Cst. Sheri Wild – @cstwild
Cst. Shaun Young – @cst_syoung
Cst. Erin Black – @cstblack
Cst. Claudia Jones – @CstJones
Insp. Corey Zaharuk – @CoreyZaharuk
Insp. Sheree Ortman – @InspOrtman
Insp. Darren Wilcox – @InspWilcox
Insp. Darcy Koch – @getonlivin
Supt. Lance Dudar – @SuptLDudar
These officers will join the @reginapolice main account in engaging the public and conveying festival and safety information throughout Grey Cup Week.
Other measures that will help enhance public safety include:
– Closed Circuit Cameras, which will be in strategic locations to ensure the protection of City and Festival assets and to effectively monitor any crowds;
– Taxis and Public Transportation will be a great way to get around during the Festival week and we’re reminding those who plan to drink to please not drive. Our extra police presence will include additional enforcement efforts to curb impaired driving.
– The Traffic and Pedestrian plan – similar to the plan that has been exercised at all regular season games, and other major concert events in Regina;
– The Regina Police Service Crowd Management Strategy will be very visible. There will be zero tolerance for aggressive or unreasonable behaviour and we will set reasonable boundaries as people celebrate. A Crowd Control response is prepared, should it be required. The Regina Police Service has worked closely with partners in preparing contingency plans for events that require an immediate emergency response. Throughout the Festival week, police will staff an Incident Command Centre and system to oversee the public safety response to planned events as well as unanticipated major events within the City of Regina.
Regina hosted very successful Grey Cup events in 1995 and in 2003 and the Regina Police Service played a key role in those successes. The Service is eagerly anticipating being out in the city in greater numbers during what is sure to be another great Festival. Again, we are encouraging families and people of all ages and backgrounds to join in the celebration.
You must be logged in to post a comment.