Hello again everyone. Well, what a fabulous weekend at ARGRA rodeo. The weather was amazing, unless of course you happened to be in full uniform with body armour! Credit is due to the organizers for managing to attract such high-calibre performers such as LeAnn Rimes, the Village People and George Canyon, amongst others. I want to thank all of you who took the time to say hello over the weekend, and for giving me such amazing support during Grand Entry. You succeeded in reaffirming my belief that I have the best job with the Calgary Police Service.

Of course the onset of the hot weather usually means an increase in alcohol consumption. There is nothing wrong with that if kept to moderation however, as a police officer, I all too frequently see the result of alcohol-related incidents, whether that be impaired driving, assaults and domestic violence, or just plain stupidity where people put themselves or others at risk. I had the misfortune to hear about a domestic related incident just this week, and I know that lots of times this goes unreported. That does not make it right, and I want to assure all of you victims that we are here to help, and take this extremely seriously. And to any offenders out there, please know that violence is never an excuse and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

With that in mind, and because bad things do still happen, I want to provide a bit of information about domestic violence. If you’re involved in an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1 immediately. Otherwise, call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.

Police investigators are responsible for following up the incident, interviewing the complainant and assessing the person’s level of risk. We also help the complainant navigate the legal system – often laying additional charges – and connect the victim with support services within the community. If the person is at risk, we are able to provide safety planning and other options.

We also investigate all high-risk, habitual stalking offences, especially where there was a previous interpersonal relationship. Police investigations are held in the strictest of confidentiality. There are plenty of resources for victims of domestic violence on the CPS website, or feel free to contact me directly, although not in an emergency situation.

There are two types of orders available for those requiring protection against family violence:

Emergency Protection Order:

An EPO is an order that police obtain from the court to provide immediate protection for an abused family member where there is reasonable belief that family violence may occur. It is only available in emergency situations when action is required for the protection of the person making the claim. Complainant’s consent is required for the police to apply for this order.

A review of this order will take place within nine working days by the Court of Queen’s Bench Justice, where the Justice can grant the order for up to one year. A person can apply for an EPO without letting the abuser know about the application (this makes it different from a Queen’s Bench Protection Order). The application can be made by telephone or in person at any hour, 24-hours per day, seven days per week. In Calgary, the police usually make this application.

An EPO can, amongst other things, require that an abusive family member temporarily leave the home, not contact other family members, not come near a location, and give up any weapons. If the order is granted without the other person being present, a copy of the order must be served on that person as soon as possible by the police. Victims of domestic abuse can contact a lawyer free of charge through Calgary Legal Guidance or during business hours the Family Law Office at 403-297-6380.

Restraining order:

A restraining order is granted by the civil courts. It is very similar to an EPO, except police cannot apply for it or be involved in any matter. Police only have the powers to deal with criminal matters and not civil matters. There is no criminal offence for breaching a restraining order. This is why EPOs were developed.

So you can see, there are a few options available, but we as police officers can only act if we are made aware of these incidents. Nobody has anything to fear by reporting domestic violence, and remember, I am always available for help and advice.

We are all people, so let’s love each other and not hurt each other. How can we expect others to accept us if we find it hard to accept ourselves? I hope you enjoyed Stampede –  if you participate in the festivities – but go easy on the alcohol! As always, stay safe, look after each other, and feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.