‘Far more dangerous’ for police officers today, says former WPS chief

A former Winnipeg police chief and a criminal justice professor feel it’s a dangerous time to be a police officer in Canada.

That’s why neither were surprised to see the association representing police chiefs across Canada request an urgent meeting with the country’s premiers to discuss bail reform and the recent killings of officers.

The letter was sent Monday to Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, the chair of the Council of the Federation that constitutes all of the premiers in Canada.

Devon Clunis, Winnipeg’s chief of police from 2012 to 2016, says the uptick in police officer deaths across Canada in the last six months is an immense cause for concern.

Eight Canadian officers have been killed since September 2022. Most recently, two Edmonton cops were killed on March 16 while responding to a family dispute. And a Quebec provincial police officer was stabbed to death while making an arrest a week later.

“I think that is unheard of in the history of policing in our country,” said Clunis. “So it’s very easy to say yes, it’s far more dangerous and it’s a different paradigm they are dealing with, absolutely.”

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Winnipeg’s current police chief Danny Smyth is the president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

In Monday’s letter to Stefanson, Smyth said policing in Canada is “at a crossroads” and addresses growing issues, including the safety of police officers, and the rise in drugs, guns, gangs, and violence.

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University of Winnipeg criminal justice professor Dr. Michael Weinrath says he is not surprised to see a letter of this magnitude put forward.

“Obviously it’s a very difficult time to be a police officer and a police chief,” said Weinrath. “This isn’t totally surprising that they are going to take a stand.”

Weinrath says the rise in addictions and mental-health issues has been a major factor in the rise in crime across the country.

“These things are happening, and they are causing crime, serious crime, and random crime,” he said. “Governments – federal, provincial, and municipal – need to do something about these things.”

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Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen says Stefanson is willing to set up a meeting with the chiefs of police to discuss these ongoing issues.

“We have a premier who is open to listening to the police on this and all issues on policing,” said Goertzen. “I’m very open and want to listen to all the concerns around policing, and we have demonstrated that we are willing to act and get results.”

The letter from the chiefs says there has been a link in the rise of violence by people released on bail since federal legislation changes were brought in four years ago.

“There are individuals that are out on bail that shouldn’t be and it’s contributing to the rise in violent crime,” said Markus Chambers, the Chair of Winnipeg Police Board.

“It’s something that we have to address, and we have to look at different measures in terms of keeping violent offenders behind bars.”