Sept. 16, 2022 – For immediate release:

Mayoral candidate Rana Bokhari today pledges to combine the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) budget with a new social services budget, called the Crime Prevention budget, and to allocate 10 per cent of that budget to local social groups to help prevent crime.

“I was privileged enough to do a ride-along with the WPS recently, and it was obvious there is a disconnect between the top brass and the officers on the street,” says Rana.

“The WPS has lost their way and need help.”

WPS officers and the union have said for years they are overwhelmed, dealing not only with violent crime but trying to provide services to those suffering from addiction and mental illness.

“We have a very large budget – $320 million – to prevent and deal with crime in this city. We need to spend more of that budget on groups and services in our city that prevent crime, so that police officers can do their actual jobs,” says Rana.

She also pledges to revisit the 2013 independent WPS Operational Review and commission another review of the WPS if necessary, as the original has major oversights.

“The last operational review was widely derided by police, city councillors and citizens,” says Rana.

“While some changes were recommended, it excluded major human resource issues because of negotiations that were underway with the police union. This is a huge piece of the puzzle.”

It’s unclear if any of the recommendations were ultimately adopted.

The report did note that in 2013, the WPS was “too reactive” and not proactive enough,
and that there was little to no accountability for officers’ behaviour or for achieving crime reduction targets.
“The lack of accountability is a major issue. It requires a cultural shift inside the force that is already happening in society,” says Rana.

“Taxpayers deserve to know that the people who are sworn to protect them are held
responsible for their actions.”

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For more information:
Elisha Dacey
204-290-8009
team@rana4wpg.ca