Police officers to patrol on buses, around stops as violent crime rises

Winnipeggers can expect to see more police officers on and around buses, as police launch a new initiative to combat a surge in violent crime.

On Wednesday, Winnipeg Police Service announced a new “targeted safety strategy” for Winnipeg Transit.

“We’re going to be targeting people that get on the buses and choose to either perpetrate violence or (exhibit) disruptive anti-social behaviours … It’s not just a shotgun approach. We’re going to be looking at some of the hotspots, if you will, throughout the transit system,” WPS Supt. Brian Miln told media at a news conference.

WPS started the initiative Wednesday, which will see more officers ride buses, patrol transit stops and monitor shelters, both in uniform and in plainclothes.

Police said 325 violent crimes were reported at Winnipeg Transit locations in 2024 alone, including on buses and in areas around bus shelters. The service said that marked a “historic high” that nearly tripled 2019 numbers, with the trend continuing this year.

Police did not provide the exact number of violent crimes in 2019 or in 2025 so far.

WPS said its new strategy will focus on high-risk incidents, complementing the work of transit’s existing community safety team officers.

“It is going to be a layered approach. The WPS, we bring certain skills, we bring tactics, experience and tools to the table … We’re going to be working together to combat violence,” said Miln.

In an email, he added that “numerous incidents” go beyond the scope of community safety officers and transit inspectors, such as assaults, robberies and weapon incidents, which police are better equipped and trained to handle.

Miln said the program will redeploy existing resources and run until the end of the year, when it will be reassessed. The number of police officers working on transit will fluctuate.

The city’s community safety team began patrolling buses in February 2024, tasked with defusing dangerous situations, providing first aid and helping vulnerable people connect to resources.

The community safety officers have the power to detain or apprehend people in cases where public or individual safety is at risk but can’t arrest individuals for criminal code offences, the city confirmed Wednesday.

While that team was also added to make buses safer, police and others now believe another layer of security is needed.

“We don’t have enough community safety officers to be on every bus or at every bus stop … I believe we have made progress and we’re still making progress,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham.

While some advocates have lobbied city council to create a dedicated transit police force and others have urged political leaders to keep police off the buses, Gillingham said the new initiative is appropriate.

“We’re going to do what we need to do to make the community safer … Wherever there is crime and a threat to public safety, police have the jurisdiction,” he said.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee, said it’s unfortunate to see violence continue on buses at this rate, which the new initiative will help address.

“Until root causes of these issues are dealt with, such as mental health (concerns) … There’s a lot of social unrest in our world right now and we’re seeing it play out on our doorsteps,” said Lukes (Waverley West).

The union that represents Winnipeg Transit drivers said violent incidents remain far too common, running the gamut from verbal threats to physical attacks.

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“It’s very frustrating. We were hopeful that with the community safety team starting we would see a significant, if not longstanding, reduction in the amount of incidents but it certainly didn’t seem to be the deterrent we hoped it was … We have to balance the (good preventative work the safety team does) with the deterrent aspect and I think that’s what this new initiative is going to help accomplish,” said Chris Scott, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505.

The union said drivers have reported 196 security incidents on buses this year so far, including verbal threats, assaults, property damage and theft. The figure does not include incidents just outside the bus or those passengers report to police alone.

On Wednesday afternoon, a few transit riders at a downtown bus stop largely welcomed the new safety initiative.

Harman Kaur said she would feel safer on the bus if a police officer was also on board.

“It’s good to have police so … people can safely move around,” said Kaur.

Rena Wilde agreed, noting people witnessing a security threat on a bus can’t simply cross the street to avoid it.

“(There is) too much violence in this city … We have to start stepping up to protect (people) … (This) is even more so on a bus … you can’t move, especially when it’s packed,” said Wilde.

Colin Bennett said a police presence could help, noting a loved one was once assaulted and pushed off a bus.

“There’s definitely a need for (more security), especially later at night in the core areas,” said Bennett.

However, he isn’t sure police officers, or another type of security, is needed.

“Maybe put the (police) cadets on the bus, just eyes and ears,” he said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.