Full Breakdown
Winnipeg Police and Outreach Groups Conclude Joint Downtown Safety Initiative
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Joint Police-Outreach Effort Targets Open Drug Use
In early August, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) launched a coordinated downtown safety initiative that paired police officers with Indigenous-led and community outreach teams. Over roughly two months, the teams conducted more than a dozen joint walks in areas with reported open drug use, including Main Street, Higgins Avenue, Ellice Avenue and Sargent Avenue. The effort, slated to end at the close of October, combined law-enforcement actions against drug traffickers with referrals to health, shelter and harm-reduction services.
Background & Context
The program evolved from a 10-day drug-enforcement crackdown in late June and early July. That earlier sweep drew criticism from service providers who said they had not been consulted and that arrests near service locations could undermine outreach work. Police chief Gene Bowers later described the June operation as a “misstep” and emphasized a shift toward a partnership model for the later initiative.
Data & Statistics
- Arrests: 55 arrests during the joint engagement days; 43 for outstanding warrants or breach of release conditions, three for possession of a scheduled substance.
- Engagements: Const. Claude Chancy said outreach workers logged more than 3,700 engagements with individuals on the streets.
- Narcan Distribution: Over 550 naloxone kits were handed out to outreach staff and volunteers.
- Referrals: Police figures cite more than 200 referrals to detox, shelter, supervised consumption and other supports; a separate statement lists 117 referrals broken down as 33 to the Main Street Project, 16 to the supervised consumption site and 68 to other partners.
- Detox and Protective Care: Two people were taken to the province’s 72-hour protective care centre, and ten entered the Main Street Project’s detox program.
Official Statements & Responses
Staff Sgt. Ryan Howanyk noted that police will continue to focus on drug traffickers while allowing community partners to make first contact with individuals on the street. Mayor Scott Gillingham praised the results and clarified that he had no involvement in the timing of the police’s public release of the initiative’s numbers.
Criticism & Opposition
Local business owner Elisabeth Mague, whose salon sits on Portage Avenue, warned that “if they don’t come, then I’m losing money,” describing how open drug use has deterred customers. Della Herrera, former head of the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre, initially doubted the feasibility of police walking alongside outreach workers but later expressed satisfaction with the collaboration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think we’re definitely going in the right direction.” — Gene Bowers, police service chief
- “If they don’t come, then I’m losing money,” — Elisabeth Mague
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The number of service referrals differs between police releases: one account cites “more than 200 referrals,” while another provides a detailed count totaling 117. Funding for the coordinator position that oversees the partnership is set to expire, and officials have not confirmed whether additional resources will be secured to sustain the model through the winter months.
What’s Next
Chief Bowers indicated that discussions are underway to determine how the partnership might continue after the October deadline, including potential fundraising or municipal support to cover costs such as food, water, Narcan kits and feminine hygiene products. Outreach groups have emphasized the need for a dedicated coordinator to maintain momentum as colder weather increases demand for shelter and harm-reduction services.