More cops and community patrols coming to Downtown Winnipeg

The Manitoba government announced more safety initiatives for downtown Winnipeg this summer. Danton Unger reports.

More cops and community resources are coming to downtown Winnipeg this summer.

On Friday, Premier Wab Kinew announced the second Downtown Safety Summer Action Plan.

This 16-week plan is set to launch on Tuesday and will focus on criminal detection and prevention, community safety and engagement, and mental health and addiction supports.

“Our mission is clear: to create a welcoming and safe and vibrant downtown where everyone feels supported,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said during the announcement.

With that mission, the province is giving $500,000 to the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP). Executive Director Greg Burnett said the funding will be shared with other organizations, including Bear Clan Patrol and social service agency Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatawin (O.P.K.)

Burnett said during last year’s action plan (during which the DCSP also received provincial funding) his team connected with hundreds of people.

“Eighty-four per cent of the people we helped got what they needed right away and right at that moment. No need to call other sources,” he said, noting they were able to respond to 220 calls that otherwise would have required 911 response.

While on the enforcement side, the premier said the province was permanently funding 12 new Winnipeg Police Service officers. He said the officers, who graduated last week, have already hit the downtown streets.

“As those 12 additional officers come online, it’s going to be more of a permanent, long-term intervention,” he said.

Manitoba’s cabinet communications confirmed the province was spending $3 million in permanent and annual funding for the 12 new officers.

That spending has raised some concerns from community advocates, who questioned why the plan’s funding for new police was six times higher than the allocation for frontline community resources.

“Building relationships is better than policing in a lot of ways,” said Mary Burton, the executive director of Zoongazi Ode (formerly Fearless R2W). “Our community people who have extensive training in all these things are there. They just need funding.”

The launch of the action plan is welcome news for some downtown residents, like Shohreh Saeedidagha. The university student catches the bus in the exact area where a man was randomly attacked just last week.

“Overall, I don’t feel safe at all,” she said.

“Whenever I see the police person, I feel so much safer…It’s very good that we have that option.”

The provincial action plan will get underway on June 17 and run until October. Along with the provincial dollars, the City of Winnipeg is chipping in $50,000 and the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is putting in $25,000.