On your way to or from work, or when you’re at community events, watching a game, attending a concert, or headed to a gallery, you may notice individuals wearing green with a distinctive DCSP logo, patrolling the downtown area.
These are members of the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a safer and more welcoming downtown Winnipeg.
The City and community organizations work in close collaboration with DCSP. Together, we help ensure a coordinated, and appropriate response is provided at the right time to support the downtown community.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) and Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) share data with DCSP to help inform its planning and logistics, and are in frequent contact to help ensure the appropriate agency is dispatched to situations they are best suited for.
DCSP also has limited access to our dispatch system and our public safety radio system, which allows greater awareness of incoming calls, which leads to even better communication and coordination.
“Everyone knows that people who work together can get more done,” said Dave Dalal, WPS Superintendent. “Collaboration between everybody who has a piece of the puzzle of what's going on Downtown is sure to help.”
We regularly share information with DCSP about locations first responders are frequently called to, and the reason for the call.
The data helps DCSP focus on areas where people frequently need social supports, to help address the issue before a 9-1-1 call is made.
“Collaboration between the City and DSCP helps ensure that the right agency, and the appropriate resources are dispatched to help residents in need based on the situation and the available information,” said Christian Schmidt, Chief of WFPS.
DCSP members are trained to do everything from responding to drug poisonings and administering Naloxone, to transporting people to safe spaces, and helping them find other resources in the community
The information sharing has real-world results.
“It’s more than just numbers and data. Information sharing helps us do what we really want to do, which is helping people,” said Greg Burnett, DCSP’s Executive Director.
That includes helping people get identification so they can access resources, find a warm place to sleep for the night, and even get stable permanent housing.
“Our patrol groups are literally saving people’s lives,” Burnett said. “Collaboration, data-sharing, and open lines of communication with the City’s first responders helps make this possible.”
If you are experiencing or witnessing an emergency, call 9-1-1. If you are looking for non-emergency community health and social service resources, call 204-947-DCSP or 2-1-1.
For convenient access to resources on the go, you can download the DCSP app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.