Winnipeg Transit riders may notice police officers boarding buses or chatting with drivers more often at downtown stops.
Foot patrol officers started doing more check-ins earlier this fall to help address any issues on buses, make people feel safer and get to know Transit staff.
“We hear from people who want a visible (police) presence,” said Insp. Helen Peters, who became commander of the Winnipeg Police Service central division in mid-September. “I think people also want to be connected and engaged with police.”
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Foot patrol officers started doing more check-ins earlier this fall to help address any issues on buses, make people feel safer and get to know Transit staff.
Peters said check-ins with bus drivers, now at a greater frequency, are part of the regular duties of 36 foot patrol officers assigned to downtown.
“It’s one of the tasks they have that they know they can do during the day as resources allow,” Peters said. “We know the ask is there from community. They want to feel safer.”
Earlier this month, the unit welcomed 12 graduates whose positions are funded by the Manitoba government. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe has said the new officers’ tasks include the retail theft enforcement program that was launched earlier this year.
Transit rider Jared Smith said police officers boarded and spoke to drivers as buses pulled up to a stop in front of Canada Life Centre on Portage Avenue during Wednesday’s afternoon commute.
“They told me they are downtown foot patrols,” Smith said about the officers. “They were just making sure everybody was being safe and there were no problems on the buses.”
Smith said it was a “good gesture” by police. He hopes officers continue to check in regularly and at all hours, especially at night, while buses are running.
“I wish there was a specific unit within the police department that dealt with transit crimes. It’s such a major problem,” he said.
Peters said the check-ins are not limited to specific hours. The strategy is not in response to a specific incident or event, she said.
Foot patrols also pop into stores and other businesses to increase visibility and form relationships with owners and staff.
Some of the proactive community policing work has been done in the past, but is happening more often now, said Peters, who also oversees downtown general patrol and community support units, and Alternative Response to Citizens in Crisis.
Police are working with the city’s new community safety team, the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, local business improvement zone and outreach groups.
“It’s all about how we can network with each other and have a more engaged presence,” Peters said.
In a statement, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 said it is aware that downtown foot patrols have been checking in on bus drivers.
Earlier this week, the union held a rally outside city hall to call for improved safety measures on the city’s bus network. ATU Local 1505 called for improved shields to protect drivers, additional safety-related personnel and a new safety incident reporting system.
Mayor Scott Gillingham wants to increase the number of community safety officers, whose tasks include patrolling buses, and bus stops and corridors, including Graham Avenue, and conducting wellness checks.
Any new details will be revealed in next month’s preliminary budget, he said Tuesday.
The mayor is in favour of expanding the program beyond downtown.
Winnipeg currently has about 20 safety officers. The program launched in February, with a one-time $5-million grant from the province that’s expected to last to 2027.
Meanwhile, the city is preparing to test a shatterproof glass on bus shelters as part of a pilot project.
Last year, 305 shelters had 750 panes of glass broken or damaged, as per Winnipeg Transit data. So far this year, 233 shelters have been damaged, affecting 591 panes of glass and 93 doors.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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