Ending special duty helps staff cruisers
If you’re not from Winnipeg, the first time you see it can be a little alarming. You’ve come to the grocery store for a week’s groceries, gotten what you need, […]
Retailers in Winnipeg will bid farewell to a unique police program that saw officers stationed in stores for special duty hours. The program, which has been in place for over a decade, will be phased out by May 1, 2027, after the number of Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) hours booked for the retail sector is reduced by half. This change is primarily due to the officers involved in special duty hours being unavailable to fill gaps in staffing at the police department.
WPS Chief Gene Bowers cited the challenge of staffing cruisers when officers were otherwise occupied in retail stores, particularly during times of staffing shortages. The officers were paid for their time, with fees ranging from $141.75 per hour for constables to $166.95 for staff sergeants. However, the program has also been criticized as "cops as props" by some, as the officers were not actively involved in security work but rather present as a precautionary measure.
The reduction in special duty hours will impact the security plans of retailers, who will no longer have police officers readily available to assist with incidents such as shoplifting. While the decision has been met with mixed reactions from rank and file police officers, the primary focus remains on fulfilling the city's duty to protect and serve the residents of Winnipeg.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
