Brandon cadets credited for cutting downtown crime

BRANDON — Increased police cadet presence is being credited for the sharp downturn in break-and-enters across Brandon in 2025.

“I think this speaks to the value of not just reacting and responding to crime, but the value of proactive presence,” said Tyler Bates, police chief of Manitoba’s second-largest city.

Commercial and residential break-ins were down by roughly 50 per cent from 2021 and dropped significantly from 2024, based on calls for service to police.

In 2025, the Brandon Police Service received 216 break-and-enter calls for service, down from 312 in 2024. In 2021, there were 449 calls for service.

This year, as of Feb. 28, police received 21 calls about break-and-enter incidents.

“I think that the numbers being parallel to that investment in our cadet program are not by accident. They’re not coincidental,” Bates said.

Emmy Sanderson, the executive director of the Brandon Downtown Biz, said the drop reflects changes made in recent years by the police service, the city and the downtown community.

“When I see those numbers… and I know downtown is not perfect, and I know we’ve got a long way to go, but it tells me that when everyone’s working together, it makes a difference,” Sanderson said.

She specifically mentioned the introduction of the community cadet unit in 2023 and an increase in police presence downtown.

Sanderson said while working on the police service’s downtown strategy in 2025, there were conversations about the attitude toward downtown and challenges within the police service, which helped “bring everyone onto the same page.”

If there is an abundance of cadets in an area and there “isn’t an opportunity to commit those crimes because of that visibility, it’s going to result in a decrease in the stats,” Bates said.

There are currently 13 community cadets, the chief said, which is three more than a full complement.

Cadets can spend their days patrolling, as opposed to having to deal with the administrative elements of police work, which often tie down sworn officers, he said.

Additionally, he said cadets are constantly engaging with people in the community, whether it’s speaking with business owners or helping vulnerable citizens access resources.

“There’s a level of trust that’s been built within the community through that community presence.”

Break-and-enter calls downtown dropped to 49 in 2025 from 84 in 2024.

Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Ludwig said the chamber has had multiple conversations with police about crime prevention, including community cadets, and the numbers show it is having a beneficial effect.

Even if nothing is stolen, it’s still a burden on the business, she said.

“Often there’s significant damage, such as broken windows, damage to locks — just a mess to clean up,” Ludwig said.

In 2025, police laid 49 charges for break-and-enters across the city compared to 92 charges in 2024.

Bates said these numbers are approximate as charges are added or changed on a day-to-day basis.

— Brandon Sun