Confidential police memo sparks divide at City Hall over Calgary safety plan

A confidential memo from the Calgary Police Commission sparked major tension at city hall Wednesday, exposing sharp divisions among councillors over the city’s proposed safety and well-being strategy.

What began as a routine discussion on public safety at the Community Development Committee quickly turned tense after details of the memo surfaced, suggesting the police commission has not yet endorsed the city’s new Safer Together plan.

The strategy focuses on preventing crime by addressing root causes such as mental health challenges, addiction, homelessness and food insecurity. However, much of the committee debate shifted away from the substance of the plan itself and toward the commission’s apparent concerns and its reluctance to formally support the strategy at this stage.

Coun. Raj Dhaliwal criticized what he described as a lack of clarity from the commission.

“What I heard was the police act, they have their own safety plan,” Dhaliwal said. “They have a choice. They can accept or adopt this plan, and that’s great. Let’s have those conversations.

“But you can’t say you don’t know what you want to do and at the same time complain that you were not engaged.”

When CityNews requested a copy of the memo, the Calgary Police Commission declined to release it, stating it was “not meant for public circulation.”

The commission did acknowledge it requires more time to assess the impacts of the strategy before offering formal support.

That uncertainty prompted Mayor Jeromy Farkas to introduce an amendment to strengthen the commission’s involvement as the strategy moves forward. The amendment was framed as a compromise, allowing continued progress while giving police governance bodies additional time to review the plan.

“It’s not that they don’t approve it, necessarily,” said Coun. Harrison Clark. “Their argument in that memo was that they wanted more time with it. Providing that time while we continue moving forward is something I think Calgarians will appreciate.”

Advocates behind the Safer Together strategy urged councillors to keep the focus on collaboration rather than division, emphasizing the plan is intended to be city-wide, not police-led.

“It’s not the police’s plan, it’s the city’s plan,” said Susan Ridley, a volunteer with the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good. “But nonetheless, you have to work together.”

Some councillors also raised concerns about the absence of detailed costing for the strategy.

Still, emotional testimony from community advocates appeared to sway the room. One moment that visibly affected councillors involved a Grade 4 student who spoke about experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Hamza Mehdi, another volunteer with the alliance, emphasized the need for investment in prevention.

“With more funding, we would be able to handle people at a rate that is faster and easier on families,” Mehdi said. “So they don’t struggle financially, spiritually, or mentally.”

In the end, the motion passed narrowly in a 7–6 vote, highlighting the growing divide at city hall.

The Safer Together strategy now heads to a full council vote on May 26, with updated costing details expected ahead of that meeting.