Police chief should focus on Winnipeg, not national role, city councillor says

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This article was published 13/06/2022 (1205 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A city councillor is calling for the city’s chief of police to focus on Winnipeg during the remainder of his term — and for the police board to start the recruiting process for the next top cop.

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth’s current contract with the city ends in November 2023. Earlier this year, he was nominated for president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, a national role, which will be voted on in July at the association’s annual general meeting.

He has sat on the board of directors of the national association, representing Manitoba, since 2018, the police service confirmed.

Smyth was not made available for comment Monday.

Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Sherri Rollins said she worries taking on the national role would hamper the police chief’s focus on the city.

“We have enough work in Winnipeg, we need to centre on the Winnipeg-based work,” she said, noting she wants to see community policing.

“This is a needed discussion in Winnipeg, we do have security issues…. When hospitals and (emergency rooms) know… they’re expecting a very difficult summer from the criminality perspective, and it’s started already.”

She also pointed to concerns with low police morale as well as increased overtime and calls for service as evidence of Smyth’s need to focus on the city, rather than a national role.

Rollins admits she has a difficult relationship with the Winnipeg Police Board, including a complaint against her stemming from comments she made to the March 4 board meeting, when she asked about the handling of the February anti-COVID-19 mandate protest at the legislature by Winnipeg police.

However, she said, it’s critical for the police board to “signal a search” for a chief of police ahead of Smyth’s contract expiring.

“If you’re putting together a search committee, that’s actually not a lot of time, in particular in this very tight labour market, this very competitive labour market,” Rollins said.

Coun. Markus Chambers, who heads the police board, did not return a request for comment Monday.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera