ROTHENBURGER: ‘I could write a book’ about working security on Victoria Street West

Eldridge had asked him to move along and that’s when the trouble began. The video shows him throwing the man to the ground and kicking him. But it doesn’t show how the confrontation began.

The six foot-five inch Eldridge, who weighs 253 pounds, told me this week the man pushed him “to my limit…. He decided he was going to get in my face. He was muttering that he was going to stab me, that he was going to murder me.”

Eldridge says the man pushed him and “I took him to the ground.” Then, he says, the man got back up and spit in his face.

“To me, that’s assault. I took him down and I kicked him a couple of times.” He said if he had to do it over again, he probably wouldn’t kick him. “I was just really pissed off.”

It was Eldridge who faced charges, which have been dropped. His security licence was temporarily revoked but he expects to get it back within the next couple of weeks and, as a CFJC News story said this week, he hopes to start his own security firm.

The incident ignited a public debate between those who were appalled at Eldridge’s actions and those who believe tough action is required on Victoria Street West to protect the public and businesses. City council has since approved more security for the area but Eldridge says it’s not working.

About half the street population on Vic West are criminals who have been through the system or haven’t been caught, he contends. Others use drugs or alcohol, or are mentally ill, and just don’t get the help they need.

And some are there simply due to bad luck.

“Putting them into an apartment doesn’t help” without proper support programs, he said.

“I love this street, I love this city, I love the people in this city, but let’s help them….

“I feel sorry for the homeless and people should, but let’s get them into rehab, not just housing.”

Security guards are threatened, sworn at and spit at every day, and businesses are robbed or vandalized, and it’s gotten worse since he left, Eldridge said. The business owners interviewed by CFJC confirmed that assessment.

He said the problem is “triple” what it was and “it’s going to get worse.”

Private security guards have no authority to make arrests. When problems escalate, they call for help from RCMP but, contends Eldridge, getting a quick response to Victoria Street West isn’t easy.

As an example, he said his 2003 Honda Civic was recently broken into when it was parked in the area, windows busted. When he reported it to police, a constable told him there’s a lot of crime

on Victoria Street West but there were higher priorities in the city right now, including several murders.

Eldridge contends that too many security guards on the street spend too much time on their cellphones and not enough time connecting with business owners. Security certification from the province consists of an online test and a written test, but not any training in dealing with confrontations that can turn violent.

“Ninety per cent of security is standing in a store. Working (security) on West Victoria is not like working (security) in a store.”

With no weapon, “It’s just me and my phone but police don’t show up.” His own best tool is “the way I look,” he said. “Other security, they just stand there and laugh at them.”

Eldridge has nothing but good things to say about business owners on the street. He also has high praise for Coun. Bill Sarai, who has taken an active role in trying to solve the problems there.

These days, he said he still spends a lot of time on Vic West because “all my friends are on this street.”

He considers himself a volunteer now, handing out pamphlets for VisionQuest, a society that helps people heal from addiction.

And, he waits to get his security licence back so he can start his own business. His first choice as a location would be Victoria Street West.

“I could write a book about my year on this street.”

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER: ‘I could write a book’ about working security on Victoria Street West

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