Enhanced downtown presence has seen beefed-up patrols during those peak hours businesses request them – early morning before opening and early evening as they are closing. Forty-three additional foot patrols were deployed between Nov. 25 and Dec. 8.

“The impact was immediately felt with reduced complaints from businesses,” VandeGraaf noted.

The early-evening hours are a more difficult time to devote officers for this task, he said, “but in the morning our officers can be counted on to be downtown, highly visible and moving people as we need to.”

With the new homeless shelter at 310 Division St. opening, they are working closely with staff, municipal bylaw officers, and nearby residents and businesses. As well, they sit on the community advisory council for this service. Between Nov 25 and Dec. 8, they fielded additional engagement patrols “to be sure all businesses and people in that area feel safe and heard.”

Unfortunately, most complaints seem to arise from noise in the gazebo at the rear of the building, which is not a matter within police jurisdiction.

“Excellent work on the warrant-apprehension project,” member Sean Graham commented.

“I think that's exactly what the people in Cobourg are looking for. I have heard very positive things myself from a few business owners downtown. To see the police being active on this and holding people accountable is nice.”