In September 1999, Chief of Police Jack Ewatski struck an internal Operational Review Team to examine the operations of the Service and to provide recommendations on how to further increase The Winnipeg Police Service's effectiveness and efficiency.

The consulting firm of Progestic International were engaged to conduct an independent assessment of the effectiveness of the Winnipeg Police Service and the initiatives developed by the internal review.

Recommendations from both the internal and external review have been incorporated into these seven priority initiatives that will form the foundation of our Service: 

1. To redesign and implement a new priority dispatch system.
2. To establish and maintain appropriate human resources to meet operational needs. 
3. To expand neighbourhood oriented policing throughout the Service.
4. To streamline reporting systems. 
5. To make the Arrest Processing Unit (APU) as effective and efficient as possible.
6. To review the current police promotional process.
7. To restructure the Investigative Services Branch of the Service into Divisions that are more in keeping with established mandates.

The initiatives address four areas of the service: Uniform Operations, Traffic, Investigative Services and Service Delivery.

By adopting these initiatives in their entirety, the public will see the Winnipeg Police providing a more effective and efficient level of service.

Uniform Operations

In the Community Patrol Model each and every member is a Community Police Officer working together as a neighbourhood team. The commander of each division would be responsible for overseeing the uniform operation, traffic enforcement and plainclothes investigations in their division.

Traffic

Traffic units would work alongside Community Patrol members to ensure community concerns are addressed. This combination of members would expand the knowledge base of both Community Patrol members and Traffic members translating into increased enforcement.

Service Delivery

Enhanced delivery of service to victims of crime will be achieved through the combination of increased staffing in the Divisional Investigation Units, the member of the Community Patrol accepting responsibility for certain follow-ups, and specific coverage becoming available seven days a week.

Investigative Services

The Service would provide investigative support seven days a week, including all Divisional Investigative Units. Specialized units would be realigned in a manner that more closely reflects the respective mandates of each unit.

Implementation of several initiatives has occurred during the past year, such as establishment of the Arrest Processing Unit, formation of the Criminal Gang Unit and restructuring of the Youth Division.