CAP team member Erika Anderson picks up a needle in a downtown Kamloops alley on Monday (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

CAP TEAM

CAP team illustrates dangers, needs in Kamloops downtown to mayor

Apr 19, 2021 | 4:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Customer Care and Patrol team — or the CAP team — is increasing its presence on downtown streets.

At times, it’s a dangerous job, picking up needles, used naloxone kits, and other garbage that’s littered in back alleys.

“We do find some pretty big hauls of needles, lots of naloxone kits, safe supply,” said CAP team member Erika Anderson. “We have come across a few emergency situations as well where you have to call ambulance or police.”

The CAP team comes across fires in some alleys downtown as well, as the marginalized try to stay warm at night.

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On Monday, the team invited Kamloops mayor Ken Christian to join them and see what they deal with on a daily basis.

“I think we were just trying to get across the importance of keeping our streets clean and really wanting to work with the businesses, and collectively mitigate any risks towards anyone downtown,” said Anderson.

Kamloops mayor Ken Christian walks with CAP team through downtown on Monday (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

Christian says the walkabout shows how critical the CAP team is in the city.

“It’s important work. I think the harm-reduction approach that they’re using in terms of identifying needles and helping out individuals in crisis is really the kind of thing we need more of,” he said.

Last month, Kamloops city council approved more security for downtown and the Tranquille Corridor. The security is now in place from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week.

“It’s that late-night interaction and you’re starting to see a number of fires and those kinds of things where we need extra eyes and ears on the street,” noted Christian. “So we’ll be doing that with a private contractor right now, then we’ll eventually move our CSO (Community Safety Officer) service to a 24/7 kind of operation.”

The CAP team appreciates the extra support downtown, so they can help more businesses and the homeless population.

“We definitely want to get more outreach support for a lot of the members living in the downtown community, as well as a lot of support for the businesses who deal with a lot of the garbage and drug paraphernalia that we’ve been picking up,” said Anderson.

There is currently just one CAP team downtown. The Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association is waiting for more federal funding with the hopes of adding three or four more teams for the summer.