Winnipeg mayoral candidate would double police resource officers in schools in 4 years
Jenny Motkaluk would launch pilot project for officers in elementary schools, create crime prevention fund
Winnipeg mayoral candidate Jenny Motkaluk says if she's elected this fall, she would double the number of police resource officers serving in schools in the city by the end of 2022.
"I really believe that crime prevention is as important if not more important than responding to crimes that have already taken place," Motkaluk said at a campaign event on Tuesday.
Motkaluk said she'd increase the school resource officer complement in Winnipeg from 17 officers in schools this year to 34 in four years and start a pilot project placing officers in elementary schools.
She'd also oversee the creation of a $500,000 "crime prevention initiatives fund," to be awarded each year through a city council process, in consultation with the Winnipeg Police Service.
The fund could support citizen patrol organizations, safety-by-design initiatives and "other projects with measurable crime prevention objectives," a news release from Motkaluk states.
Motkaluk was accompanied Tuesday morning by former Winnipeg police chief Devon Clunis, who she credited for suggesting the increase in school resource officers.
The former chief said he wasn't there to endorse Motkaluk, but instead to support the expansion. Clunis served as a school resource officer for five years during his career, he said.
"I can tell you today, that was probably the most effective five years of my entire service, because I've seen the long-term positive effects that it's had on individuals within our city and just on the culture and welfare of our city," he said.
Police association takes more active interest
In a departure from previous election-year norms, Winnipeg Police Association executives Moe Sabourin and George Van Mackelbergh also attended Motkaluk's announcement Tuesday.
The police association, which traditionally doesn't endorse mayoral candidates, is taking a more active interest in this race, Sabourin said. The association is keeping tabs on all public safety plans from candidates.
"We're interested in what all the candidates are saying about public safety because we have some concerns with the current mayor and how he has chosen to fund pet projects instead of public safety," he said.
A statement from Mayor Brian Bowman's office said public safety is a "key priority" for the mayor and said Bowman will continue to collaborate with the Winnipeg Police Service and community safety organizations.
The statement referred to ongoing work with the Bear Clan intended to address aggressive panhandling, an illicit drug strategy and an overall downtown safety plan.
"It is also important to note that police resources are directed at the discretion of the Winnipeg Police Service under the oversight of the Winnipeg Police Board," the statement said.
Sabourin said the association isn't endorsing Motkaluk but called the expansion of the school resource officer program "a very good idea."
"This is nothing but a positive step to integrate police and get people to realize that we're there to help," he said.
Once implemented, Motkaluk said the larger number of school officers would cost the city $2.7 million per year to fund.
"It is a substantial amount of money and it would have a substantial effect," she said.
The crime prevention fund would be supported in its first year by a permanent $200,000 reduction in the mayor's initiatives fund and a one-time offset of $250,000 from the city's Innovation Capital Fund, in addition to contributions from "external sources," including the private sector.
Motkaluk has identified crime prevention as one of her three "urgent" priorities, along with better roads and sewers and economic reforms boosting local business.
Mayoral candidates have until September to register their campaigns. The registration period for council candidates starts on June 30 and also ends in September.
Voters head to the polls Oct. 24.
