Calgary police arrest 20 in downtown enforcement blitz

Calgary Police Arrest 20 in Downtown Enforcement Blitz

Dozens of Calgary police officers, transit peace officers, and social agency workers converged on the city's downtown core on Wednesday as part of a major enforcement effort.

Operation Order Launch

Standing before a wall of uniformed officers and partner agencies, Calgary Police Chief Katie McLellan declared that “enough is enough.” This marks her first significant public initiative since taking office earlier this year.

Chief McLellan introduced Operation Order, a comprehensive enforcement blitz targeting crime and social disorder in downtown Calgary. The effort is part of the wider Safer Calgary initiative.

Areas Targeted and Mission

East Village
Stephen Avenue
Century Gardens

The operation involved enforcing laws, issuing tickets, making arrests, and connecting vulnerable people with support services.

Results by Mid-Afternoon

20 arrests with criminal code charges
77 summons issued
Actions on 180 outstanding warrants

Individual Impact

One of the earliest fines was issued to Grant Robinson, who received a $120 penalty for discarding a cigarette butt.

“This is gonna stop me from probably another month because I have to pay it,” Robinson said. “I won’t be able to save money because I have to give the government money.”

Reporters accompanied officers as they patrolled back alleys and transit platforms throughout the operation.

Chief McLellan's initiative reflects Calgary's heightened focus on improving safety and addressing downtown social issues through coordinated enforcement and support efforts.

CityNews Calgary — 2025-11-05