Winnipeg police asked to find ways to reduce violence against mentally ill people in crisis
Bartley Kives | CBC News | Posted: November 1, 2016 9:57 PM | Last Updated: November 2, 2016
Draft version of new use-of-force policy comes before police board on Friday
The Winnipeg Police Board wants the city's incoming police chief to ensure the Winnipeg Police Service can modify their tactics to deal with crisis situations involving mentally ill people
A draft version of a new use-of-force policy calls on Winnipeg's police chief to issue a variety of directives pertaining to the use of force. One involves ensuring police in the field develop "specific awareness of ways to minimize threats and ensure safety" when they encounter "individuals experiencing mental health crises."
The policy, which comes before the police board on Friday, calls for police to de-escalate crisis situations whenever possible to reduce the potential for harm to mentally people and other members of the public.
Incoming police-board chair Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said incidents such as the 2013 police shooting of Sammy Yatim on a Toronto streetcar highlights the need for additional training for police officers.
"Crises situations are obviously difficult. Wherever possible, de-escalation is the first course of action," said Browaty, who takes over the helm of the police board from St. James-Brooklands Coun. Scott Gillingham.
The Canadian Mental Health Association applauded the police board for taking a proactive approach toward the treatment of the mentally ill.
"We're quite thrilled about what this policy could lead to in practice change for individuals experiencing mental health problems who might encounter the police," said Marion Cooper, executive director of the CMHA's Manitoba and Winnipeg office.
"It would suggest there is more effort made to support the training of police officers toward understanding the complexity of mental illness and what it might be like for somebody experiencing mental health illnesses."
Cooper said while she recognizes training can not prevent police from using force in all encounters with mentally ill people in crisis, she expressed optimism more use-of-force incidents can be prevented.
The police service acknowledged but did not respond to a request for comment about the manner in which it trains police to deal with people experiencing mental illness.
Danny Smyth will be sworn in as Winnipeg's new police chief on Nov. 8.