Winnipeg police union, community activist blast WPS state of emergency rollout
Global News
'I fear it's going to put some panic into the citizens of Winnipeg,' Winnipeg Police Association president Maurice Sabourin told 680 CJOB Thursday.
The union representing city police officers is pushing back at the Winnipeg Police Service‘s decision to call a state of emergency, which could encroach on members’ rights and shift focus away from specialized units, as calls to police and violent crimes remain high.
“I fear it’s going to put some panic into the citizens of Winnipeg,” Winnipeg Police Association president Maurice Sabourin told 680 CJOB Thursday.
WPS Chief Danny Smyth declared a state of emergency Wednesday as COVID-19 threatens staffing levels, a decision supported by Mayor Brian Bowman and police board chair Coun. Markus Chambers. Smyth suggested it would give him more flexibility to redeploy members.
As of Wednesday, the service counted about 90 active cases among more than 170 having booked time off due to the illness.
Eighty officers will be deployed to general patrol starting Monday, Smyth announced Wednesday.
Sabourin, however, insisted provisions within the collective agreement already allow Smyth to redeploy resources to a certain degree.
“We do know that general patrol is having a difficult time filling cruiser cars, but there are resources without calling a state of emergency that the chief can reallocate into GP,” Sabourin said.
Smyth informed the union of his decision an hour before making it public, Sabourin said, saying it was short notice considering two years of regularly working together to address COVID-19-related concerns.
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