Council outlines concerns with Beltline protests in letter to Calgary Police Commission

In an effort to raise concerns of Beltline residents amid ongoing protests in the area, Calgary city council has drafted a letter to the city's police commission.

In an effort to raise concerns of Beltline residents amid ongoing protests in the area, Calgary city council has drafted a letter to the city’s police commission.

The Calgary Police Commission is an independent citizen oversight board of the Calgary Police Service that provides direction and creates policies. City council does not have the authority to direct either organization.

The letter, which is penned by Mayor Jyoti Gondek and some councillors and addressed to the commission chair, Shawn Cornett, was the subject of debate during a special meeting of council Tuesday afternoon.

In the letter, council requests clarification on roles and responsibilities, asks to advocate on behalf of residents in the Beltline and requests regular updates from the police commission to council on the ongoing protests.

“What we have outlined as a council is that we need to hear from commission what they are going to do with the police service to strengthen our resolve and to make sure their community is not disrupted again this weekend,” Gondek told reporters after the meeting.

“What does that look like? We’re waiting to hear.”

Nearly every Saturday, thousands of protesters are drawn to Central Memorial Park in the city’s downtown to rally against government mandates and health measures. The demonstration is followed by a march that snakes through the streets of the area.