‘It’s tragic’: Woman dead after being hit by Winnipeg police cruiser in Fort Rouge Park encampment

Winnipeg police say a woman in her 30s is dead after being hit by a police vehicle at the Fort Rouge Park encampment on Monday evening.

Police say officers were driving a resident back to the encampment along the riverbank shortly before 9:30 p.m. when it happened.

Manitoba’s police watchdog, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU), is investigating.

“I want to offer my condolences and thoughts to the family, her friends, her community, and to her family and friends within the encampment,” said Winnipeg police Acting Chief Art Stannard. “I know this is a very heartbreaking, emotional, difficult time for the family. They’re looking for answers. They want to know what happened.

“It’s tragic.”

Because IIU is handling the investigation, Stannard was limited in how many details he could share. He could not tell reporters, for instance, where the woman was — if she was walking or lying down — when she was hit.

Stannard did say the two officers provided emergency medical care to the woman. “We did CPR right away,” he said. The woman was then taken to the Health Sciences Centre in critical condition, where she died of her injuries.

The WPS acting chief said the two “dedicated” officers were “totally devastated by this” and are being placed on leave “for a few days.”

“They see our psychologist. And their well being is very important to us as well, and we have to take care of them as well. I can tell you they’re devastated and their thoughts are with the family and friends.”

Without being able to say how often it happens, Stannard says officers often drive encampment residents home.

“They’re conveying a person back home to the encampment, and they felt that they needed to drive them down that pathway,” he said.

“The encampments, as you know, are on riverbanks, so they’re hard to get at. And so if there’s a route or a path that can get you to that location, they may use it.

“If we can lend a helping hand to drive somebody home, we will. And in this case, they made a decision to drive somebody home, and they did it as a courtesy for that person to get home safe. And that’s what they did.”

Multiple team members with Main Street Project were at the Fort Rouge Park encampment on Tuesday, speaking with those living there.

They also established a section with smudging and candles along the dirt path that heads down towards the river where the encampment is set up.

“Main Street Project is heartbroken to hear about the critical incident in Fort Rouge Park last night that resulted in a loss of life,” Jamil Mahmood, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.

“Our outreach team has responded this morning to the park to provide support and resources for the community effected by this tragedy. At this time our focus is supporting those at the site.”

A ‘step back’ in relationship of trust

Stannard acknowledges the fatal incident acts as a “step back” in the police force’s relationship with encampment residents.

“We work very hard, and we pride ourselves in building trust and building relationships with everybody in Winnipeg, all communities, all people in Winnipeg,” he said.

“It’s a step back because we can’t answer their questions right now, and they’re seeking answers right now, and we just can’t answer that… It’s now in the hands of IIU and so we have to respect that process.”

The IIU is asking witnesses or anyone with information or video footage to contact them at 1-844-667-6060.

–With files from Mitchell Ringos