Winnipeg Police Service roll out a new Rapid Response Unit

The Winnipeg Police Service is rolling out a new Rapid Response Unit (RRU) designed to handle everything from protests and major events to spikes in calls for service, but the chief says this isn’t about adding more officers; it’s about using the ones they already have more effectively.

“What I saw was that we were having a negative effect on other operations with the way we were doing business. And it just wasn’t efficient,” explained Gene Bowers, Chief of Police of the Winnipeg Police Service.

Mayor Scott Gillingham added, “There’s a lot of collaboration and coordination that frankly wasn’t happening the way I think it should have been years ago. It’s happening now.”

Starting this weekend, the new RRU will be deployed across the city, acting as a flexible team that can respond to protests, rallies, parades, and other large gatherings. At the same time, officers will be redirected to help with calls for service.

“Calls are at an all-time high coming into our comm center. I think last year was 760,000 calls there,” said Bowers.

Police say in the past, large events often pulled officers away from specialized units like guns and gangs, slowing down other investigations, but now those units can stay focused on their work while the rapid response team handles surges in demand and emerging issues in neighbourhoods.

“I’m looking at the board in our office for the number of parades and requests and events, and that means we have a vibrant city that everybody’s getting out and interacting with other community members, but it comes with a safety aspect and responsibility for us as well,” said Inspector Shaun Veldman, the Event Management & Response Division of WPS.

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Police say going forward, they will be tracking how effective the unit is, with adjustments expected as the program rolls out, but they highlighted that they are already seeing results from other recent changes.

“I can tell you there’s been a, you know, 56 per cent increase in how we respond to those lower priority calls. We have a 17 per cent increase on our proactive policing currently, and that visibility is important,” said Bowers.

The RRU will be staffed by two Sergeants, four Patrol Sergeants, and 26 Constables and will operate seven days a week, with assignments being based on current calls for service, changing conditions across the city, urgent community concerns, and requests for assistance from other WPS units.

Winnipeggers will be able to see the RRU for the first time during the annual WPS half-marathon over the weekend.