World's Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics

The World's Largest Truck Convoy is a project of the Law Enforcement Torch Run working in conjunction with members of the trucking industry in order to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics.

The convoy will be held on July 15th, 2006 and coincides with the Special Olympics Canada 2006 Summer Games being held in Brandon between July 18th and 23rd.

The event consists of independent truckers and trucking companies who donate a $100.00 entry fee per truck to Special Olympics in order to participate in the event. There is a bidding competition being held for the privileged positions of lead and end trucks.

Inspired by the powerful impact Special Olympics has had on his life through his participation in the Law Enforcement Torch Run and combined with his family's involvement with the trucking industry, Norm Schneiderhan, a Corporal with the Orange County ( Florida ) Sheriff's Department, created World's Largest Truck Convoy in 2004.

This event has raised approximately $500,000.00 U.S. to date for Special Olympics programs in previously hosted events in 34 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces. Manitoba is proud to be the third Canadian province to participate in this extraordinary fund-raising event.

Participants will meet at the Red River Exhibition grounds and will convoy southbound around the Perimeter Highway. Upon their return to the Red River Exhibition grounds, the participants will be welcomed by Special Olympic athletes, family, friends, members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run organizing committee, colleagues and law enforcement members.

The state of Florida holds the records for the longest convoy, consisting of 279 trucks and the most trucks from one company which is 120 trucks.

Members of the media are invited to attend the event in support of our highly-skilled Special Olympic athletes.

Further information regarding the event can be obtained by calling 204-283-1173 or 204-792-8134 or online at www.mbsoconvoy.ca.

Missing Youth Located

On June 21st, 2006, the Winnipeg Police Service requested the public's assistance in locating missing youth Cheyenna ARKINSON, 13 years of Winnipeg. ARKINSON was located in the evening of June 28th, 2006 in good health by members of the Winnipeg Police Service.

We would like to thank you everyone for their assistance in this incident.

Critical Mass Ride

The Winnipeg Police Service Bicycle Patrol Unit escorted the June 30th Critical Mass ride with approximately three hundred participants riding their bicycles in support of the event.

The ride began shortly after 5:00 p.m. at Central Park, proceeded through the downtown area to the Forks and lasted approximately one hour. The participants immediately began disregarding the Highway Traffic Act by taking up several lanes of traffic, riding the wrong way down one-way streets, failing to stop for numerous red lights and driving on the sidewalk.

Traffic flow was disrupted during the ride as participants occupied all lanes of travel, preventing motorists and pedestrians from proceeding and causing traffic tie-ups.

The Winnipeg Police Service focused on the safety of the cyclists and assisted by ensuring no participants were injured as a result of their disregard for traffic signal lights, stop signs and vehicular traffic on the roadway.

The Winnipeg Police Service recognizes the cyclists who chose to act responsibly and in accordance with the law and commends them for their appropriate behaviour. It is disappointing that the majority of the group chose to ignore the law, thus endangering all participants as well as others using the roadway, including pedestrians and motorists.

As the Winnipeg Police Service has committed to a peaceful escort, we elected to focus on the riders' safety rather than the blatant disregard for the law that the riders demonstrated. No arrests were made and no Provincial Offence Notices were issued.

However, based on Critical Mass's choosing not to make the ride a peaceful and orderly event, we will evaluate the issue which may guide our response regarding any future rides.

After being given the benefit of the doubt, it is unfortunate that members of the Critical Mass ride disrespected what the Winnipeg Police Service felt was a common goal of a lawful and orderly ride.

The Winnipeg Police Service will continue to attempt to work with Critical Mass by keeping the lines of communication open and meeting with representatives in order to ensure that future rides comply with the law while causing as little traffic disruption as possible and without compromising anyone's safety.