Residents in Winnipeg's West District will benefit from increased police resources beginning today with the addition of a new general patrol cruiser operating around the clock.
The additional two-officer patrol vehicle is the first increase to front-line general patrol cruiser deployment in more than three decades and is expected to improve response times by reducing travel distances across the city's largest policing district.
Covering approximately 220 square kilometres (about 46 per cent of the Service's geographical policing area) West District has experienced significant population growth over the past two decades, particularly in communities such as Waverley West. At the same time, officers continue responding to increasing demands for service across the district.
"West District was the obvious choice," said Inspector Max Waddell, Commander of West District. "We've seen the population of West District grow exponentially, and the demands placed upon our officers continue to increase. Adding another cruiser will help us better manage calls for service while supporting both our members and the communities they serve."
The additional cruiser forms part of a broader 12-month pilot project that divides West District into northern and southern response areas. Analysis of a year's worth of call data found approximately 40 per cent of dispatched calls originate north of the Assiniboine River and 60 per cent south.
The initiative is intended to reduce travel times between calls, improve response times and provide officers with greater familiarity and ownership of the neighbourhoods they patrol.
The additional cruiser will remain in West District regardless of the outcome of a separate 12-month deployment pilot.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said the investment reflects Winnipeg's rapid population growth and the importance of maintaining effective public safety services.
"Our city has grown significantly over the past four years, much of that growth occurring in West District," Gillingham said. "Council recognized the need to invest in additional police officers and patrol vehicles to help meet that growing demand and continue providing the level of service residents expect."
The Winnipeg Police Service requires approximately 18 officers to staff one patrol cruiser on a 24-hour basis, accounting for vacations, training, sick leave and other staffing requirements. The additional cruiser was funded through City Council's approval of new officer positions as part of the 2025 budget.
The Winnipeg Police Service will continue monitoring response times and operational data throughout the pilot project to evaluate its effectiveness and identify future opportunities to improve service delivery across the city.