Winnipeg's new top cop already making changes

Winnipeg's new police chief, Keith McCaskill, made his first public appearance before the city's protection committee on Friday morning, outlining his vision for the future of the Winnipeg Police Service.

McCaskill told the protection and community services committee that every aspect of the way police operate — even special units such as the street crimes and internet crime units — is under review to determine how the public can best be served.

"There's a lot of specialties — homicide, things like that — but again, we have to look at if all of the resources are in the right place," he said.

"I believe we can shift some resources around to be able to be better attuned to deal with these issues."

McCaskill was quick to say that doesn't mean special units will be eliminated.

He says he is listening to the community, and his officers. He was also adamant about finding ways to reduce the amount of paperwork that officers have to do.

The service is already experimenting with some different ways of operating, McCaskill said. He wouldn't go into detail, saying only that some things look good on paper, and the force wants to try them out.

He said he hopes to have some changes in place before the summer, when police typically become busier.

Committee chair Coun. Gord Steeves said he was pleased with what he heard from McCaskill — and was also pleased with what he's hearing from rank-and-file officers.

"One uniformed officer said to me, 'You've hired a guy who every member would go to war with,' " he said. 

Steeves said he's not sure how communication broke down under former chief Jack Ewatski, but so far he's encouraged that the lines appear to be on the mend.

McCaskill, 52, was sworn in as Winnipeg's 16th chief of police in December.

He has pledged to have a more open relationship with Winnipeggers and to work to improve the force's relationship with groups such as the city's aboriginal community.

He has also committed to reducing inefficiencies in the service and improving morale among officers.