The Manitoba government has invested nearly $11,000 with the Altona Police Service to purchase new specialized equipment to support officer and community safety.
“Our government is pleased to invest in the police officers of Altona and the Pembina Valley region who respond to high-risk situations with dedication, compassion and expertise,” said Justice Minister Cliff Cullen. “The province’s Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund helps ensure police agencies can access specialized equipment and training to keep their officers and our citizens safe.”
The Altona Police Service is purchasing mounted lights for their firearms, which will help ensure officers can respond safely and more effectively when it is dark or difficult to see. Funding will also be used to replace several older shotguns to ensure reliability when situations warrant their use.
“Police equipment is extremely expensive, so without the help of these funds the burden to pay would land firmly on our ratepayers,” said Chief Perry Batchelor, Altona Police Service. “Thanks to these funds, our officers will be much safer entering into low-light or no-light situations.”
The minister also highlighted several other investments made in 2019-20 totaling nearly $30,000 to other police services in the region.
A regional crisis negotiation unit is being jointly developed by the Winkler, Morden and Altona police services to serve their communities and surrounding areas. The unit has received more than $26,300 to equip its team including communications tools such as a throw phone and audio recording equipment, training material for all officers and a crisis negotiator refresher course for two certified officers.
The newly created unit will ensure trained negotiators are available to de-escalate and resolve high-risk situations while limiting the potential need for use of force. They will also support the work of the agencies’ regional tactical team.
The Winkler Police Service is also receiving nearly $3,200 to purchase two rechargeable lighting systems that can be used at crime scenes or collisions. Better visibility helps investigators and reconstruction experts locate and record all available evidence needed to proceed with charges in these matters. It will also help ensure matters can be investigated efficiently, allowing officers to respond to other calls for assistance more quickly.
These investments are made from Manitoba’s Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund. In 2019-20, more than $1.6 million has been used to:
- purchase specialized equipment and training for police agencies to improve officer and community safety,
- support the victims’ assistance fund, and
- invest in community organizations leading public safety and crime prevention initiatives.
Since 2016-17, the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund and the province’s federal proceeds of crime fund have invested nearly $344,000 in the Altona, Morden and Winkler police services.
