Brandon police show off modern detention cells

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This article was published 20/12/2024 (292 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Improved safety measures and modern surveillance are two of the benefits of the new holding cells at the Brandon Police Service building.

The upgraded detention centre was funded by $8.9 million from the Manitoba government.

“Having a facility… designed appropriately with all of the safety measures in place is going to make it safer for everybody, for not just the people that we house, but also the security who work here, and the police officers that have to go into the cells to do an extradition if someone decides that they don’t want to leave,” said deputy police chief Greg Hebert, a 32-year veteran of the service.

On Thursday, the media was given a tour of the new detention centre that includes 18 new holding cells and modern surveillance in which just about every inch of the facility can be monitored.

The cells are larger and more secure than previous cells; they are outfitted in heavy sliding doors instead of ones that swing. Food and blankets can be given to detainees in a safer way.

The cells are eight feet by 11 feet, and 11 feet in height. Older ones were seven by seven feet, including seven feet in height.

The upgrades are welcomed by guards.

“The arrestees don’t have an opportunity to reach some of the elements that they would use to try some sort of self harm. As far as the commissioners are concerned, when we would feed them, we had to open the door. To get them a mattress, we had to open the door. This kind of stuff doesn’t happen here anymore,” said Wade Gabriel, commissioner supervisor for the detention section.

Gabriel explained there must be at least two guards in the detention area to observe detainees. He also highlighted that mandatory checks for each detainee must occur every 15 minutes at a minimum.

“We do closed circuit TV surveillance in between the physical regular checks. The physical checks have to be done at a maximum of every 15 minutes,” added Gabriel.

Paramedics are expected to be on site as of the new year so detainees don’t have to be taken to a separate location.

“It gives us the opportunity to continue to grow our services — between paramedics and our police force,” said Terry Parlow, Brandon’s city manager and fire chief.

“That’s probably the biggest impact… (the paramedic) would be able to assist, instead of the doctors, the nurses and kind of, as we all know, the ER is actually extremely busy, and anything we can do to help them is better for all involved,” he said.

— Brandon Sun