Address-free licences issued to certain police

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CITY hall wants to formalize an arrangement it has had with Manitoba Public Insurance that allows the government insurer to provide some members of the police and other civic departments with identity documents that keep their home addresses secret.

A civic report, titled Vulnerable Profession Program Agreement, is deliberately vague and does not disclose the type of documents or personal information, on the grounds that police officers would be at risk if that information is released.

"Details of the recommended Vulnerable Profession Program Agreement cannot be disclosed in order to preserve the effectiveness of the program and officer safety," the report states.

The report will be discussed at this morning's civic protection and community services committee meeting.

Acting police chief Art Stannard will present the report to the committee, but a Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman said he would not discuss the issue before the meeting.

Ward Keith, provincial registrar of motor vehicles, also would not provide specific details about the arrangement with the Winnipeg Police Service.

However, Keith did confirm the arrangement ensures a police officer's home address is not disclosed if they are targeted in a deliberate automobile collision.

The Highway Traffic Act stipulates that drivers involved in collisions must exchange, among other things, their names and home addresses. Ward confirmed there is a concern specific police officers could be deliberately targeted for a collision in a bid to learn their home addresses.

"That is what it is," Keith said.

The report states MPI has provided some members of the police service with alternative identity documents that can be used to comply with the exchange-of-information provisions of the Highway Traffic Act.

Ward would not state the type of alternative identity documents that have been issued by MPI and what information they contain that is different from what's normally found on a driver's licence.

"It is a really long-standing process" between city hall and MPI, Keith said. "All this really is just formalizing that process with an agreement with the city, so there is nothing new here."

The report states the informal arrangement with MPI has also been extended to other civic departments in the past, but Keith said he did not know which civic departments or what other government agencies or bodies are involved in a similar program.

"It really applies to professions that are involved in the administration of justice," Keith said. "I don't really want to go into any more detail in terms of who else the program extends to."

Keith said if the arrangement is formalized, the city would have to apply to MPI in the future to have specific employees included, and those requests would be considered.

In addition to formalizing the arrangement with a negotiated deal, the report also requests that the committee delegate authority to the chief administrative officer to determine which civic employees would be entitled to participate in the program in the future.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Agreement details kept secret

Drivers involved in vehicle collisions are required to share the following information, as per Section 155 (3) of the Highway Traffic Act:

Name and address of the driver;

The number of the driver's licence.

Excerpts from the Vulnerable Profession Program Agreement report to the civic committee on protection and community services:

"Details of the recommended Vulnerable Profession Program Agreement cannot be disclosed in order to preserve the effectiveness of the program and officer safety.

"Certain members of the Winnipeg Police Service are at risk to intimidation or retribution from persons impacted by decisions made in the administration of justice. These members of the

service may be at risk if their personal information contained in identification documents is available...

"While MPI currently has similar agreements with certain other departments in the City of Winnipeg, additional agreements may be required for employees in other departments in the future.

"It is for all of those potential similar agreements with Manitoba Public Insurance that delegation is being requested."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 5, 2012 A5