Operation Clean Sweep continues

MEDIA RELEASE:

WINNIPEG April 27, 2006 - Tonight, during its 6:00 p.m. newscast, CKY TV news aired a story that stated that Operation Clean Sweep is being "scaled back" over the summer of 2006. Web content, lead-ins and teasers for the story on CKY suggested that the Operation would be 'shut down' or 'cancelled' for the summer.

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Jack Ewatski noted that “Operation Clean Sweep is a permanent unit, and it will continue to fight crime on Winnipeg’s streets throughout the summer.” He added, “the story aired is almost certainly based on the fact that there will be individual redeployments of officers to account for holidays or changes in duty over the summer. However, it is a mistake to speculate on the tempo or scale of police operations based on temporary staffing adjustments.”

Mayor Katz emphatically denied that Operation Clean Sweep would be “shut down,” as staff in the Mayor’s Office had told CKY TV News on his behalf before the story was aired.

He noted that the recent announcement of provincial funding helped the City guarantee that the Operation would be permanent. “Operation Clean Sweep will continue year-round through 2006,” Mayor Katz said. “That has been our policy throughout the year and will continue to be so.”