Winnipeg ‘going in the right direction’ with drug enforcement, referrals to community groups: police chief

Winnipeg’s police chief says the balanced approach of enforcement and support in the crackdown on drugs and criminal activity downtown is moving things in “the right direction.”

Chief Gene Bowers says Winnipeg’s “unique” approach on drug enforcement – combining police involvement, outreach walks and referrals to community groups – is having the desired effect.

“We’ve looked across the country and from what I’m hearing and what we’re hearing, we’re definitely going in the right direction, if not leading the way on some of our initiatives,” Bowers said.

In August, the Winnipeg Police Service renewed its open drug use blitz in various neighbourhoods, this time working with Indigenous-led community outreach teams and service providers to connect those in need with resources and supports.

And it’s not just law enforcement calling the initiative a success — so is the community group that partnered with police.

“When we’re in that area, they recognize us, they see the outreach teams coming with the wagon,” said Ka Ni Kanichihk executive director Jackie Anderson.

Fourteen community groups are involved in the initiative, with police and Ka Ni Kanichihk saying they are front and centre, building connections, and getting vulnerable people the supports they need.

“Your commitment speaks to the strength of our Indigenous community,” Anderson told the groups at a press conference alongside police.

170 referrals, 55 arrests

During 14 enforcement dates between Aug. 7 and Oct. 6, police say they made 55 arrests, of which 43 involved people with warrants or probation breaches. Three people were charged with drug possession.

In that time, police referred 170 people to community groups – 117 to the Downtown Community Safety Project (DCSP), 33 to Main Street Project, 16 to Winnipeg’s supervised consumption site and four to other support services.

Authorities say 10 people were sent to Main Street Project’s detox programs, 553 Narcan kits were distributed, and there were 48 “warm hand-offs” to support services. In total, more than 3,700 people were reached.

Anderson gave an example of a warm hand-off, describing a man who came to Winnipeg for medical treatment but was sleeping on the streets because he was unable to return to his community. The initiative helped him return home.

“We almost had a woman and her partner get into detox, and said can you come back next week, maybe by then we’ll be in a better place,” Anderson recounted. “And those are the moments that we need to catch, when somebody says they’re ready, we need to get them in.”

As for what’s next, Winnipeg’s chief of police wouldn’t commit past November, when the initiative is set to end.

“We ‘re all very happy with the partnership and want to continue on in some way, and we’ll be having further discussions on what looks like,” Chief Bowers said.

‘This is out of control’

Business owner Elisabeth Mague hopes it can be expanded.

“So we can be safe like we used to be,” said Mague, who has owned Elisabeth Hair Salon and Spa on Portage Avenue for 16 years. “Because I’ve been here for years and it didn’t use to be this way. This is out of control.”

Over the last year or so, Mague says she’s seen open drug use on her doorstep daily, killing her business.

“Families come for a haircut, they see them there, they drive away,” she said. “Or clients come in for hair extension services, they come to the door and they see that and they drive away. Sometimes if I’m lucky, they’ll call me and say you know what, this is at your door, I cant get in, what can I do, and I have to go escort them in.”