Premier, Mayor boost Winnipeg police officers
$2 million dollar increase will hire an additional 23 officers
WINNIPEG November 21, 2005 - Committed to supporting the front line efforts in Winnipeg’s fight against crime, Premier Gary Doer and Mayor Sam Katz today announced that a previously unallocated $2 million in funding from the provincial government will be prioritized to hire 23 more police officers in 2006.
This year’s Throne Speech noted the City of Winnipeg would receive an estimated $2 million dollars in unallocated funding to direct towards priorities which the Mayor has now dedicated to policing.
“It is essential that police have the resources they need to make our communities safer and I am pleased the City has directed this funding to front line officers,” said Doer. “Today’s announcement builds on provincial efforts to reduce crime including investments in the provincial prosecutions branch, an expansion of recreational alternatives for youth through our Lighthouse program, and the continuation of our successful Neighbourhoods Alive initiative.”
“We are taking the fight to the criminals, and it takes more police officers to do that,” said Katz. “Finding the money to hire more police officers is no easy thing, and that’s why we are so pleased to have the support of the provincial government in our fight against crime in the streets of Winnipeg.”
“The addition of these new police officers will strengthen our front-line ability to meet current challenges,” said Jack Ewatski, Chief of the Winnipeg Police Service. “Thanks to this investment, we will be even better prepared to deter and apprehend those who disrespect law and order.”
The funds are coming to the city through a revenue sharing formula announced last year by the Provincial Government. Together with the funds announced today, this program will provide $4 million to support 46 officers in the Winnipeg Police Service.
The new recruits will enter training for the WPS’s Recruit Class #142, which commences in February of 2006. The exact roles and positions of the additional officers will be determined by the leadership of the Winnipeg Police Service, based on the needs and service demands of the WPS in 2006.
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