Winnipeg police announce rapid response unit

A new Winnipeg police unit is aimed at improving response times and relieving pressure on frontline officers. Joseph Bernacki explains.

The Winnipeg Police Service has revealed a new unit aimed at enhancing safety in the city.

The service announced the creation of a Rapid Response Unit on Thursday. The unit, which will begin active duty on May 3, will be used to help alleviate the duties of frontline police officers.

“It’s a flux type of a unit that we can deploy to special events, protests, other large events in a timely fashion,” said Winnipeg Police Chief Gene Bowers.

In addition to working special events, the unit will also be used to help respond to lower-priority calls when call volumes are high.

“We do have to prioritize calls, and sometimes, in the past, we haven’t gotten to some of those lower priority calls, in my opinion, fast enough,” Bowers said. “So, this is going to give us some ability to get to those calls sooner than later as well.”

Mayor Scott Gillingham said this new unit is important for community safety and trust.

“This unit will make sure that residents get the response that they’re hoping for and needing,” he said. “It’s critical to ensure that citizens have confidence, not only in the Winnipeg Police Service but in our city as a whole.”

The unit will be staffed by two sergeants, four patrol sergeants and 26 constables and will be running daily.

They will make their first public appearance at the WPS Half Marathon on Sunday, overseeing site safety and managing traffic.