William Whyte ‘powerline’ aims to curb crime

A new anonymous tip line to report suspicious activity in a beleaguered North End neighbourhood is beginning to take off.

One month in, the William Whyte “powerline” has received two to three calls per day about suspected drug dealings and theft.

Darrell Warren, who is behind the phone line, said calls have prompted police investigations.

“We’re just here to be another tool for the police to use because we know they can’t be everywhere,” said Warren, who is president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association. “It’s good because there’s a lot of good people living in the neighbourhood who want to see this stuff stopped.”

Warren worked for years to establish the tip line after seeing similar success with a tip line in Point Douglas.

Residents can report suspicious activity and support police without identifying themselves.

“People don’t want to report stuff because the drug dealer across the street that you’re reporting, they’ll see the police come to your house, knock on your door, and now the drug dealer knows where the rat is,” he said.

Warren’s long-term goal is to build trust with residents so one day they feel comfortable reporting activity to Winnipeg police or Crime Stoppers, a non-profit organization that provides police with anonymous tips on crime.

Flyers circulating in the neighbourhood advertise the tip line (431-336-5705). Funding for the initiative came from a provincial fund that uses the proceeds of crime to finance anti-crime measures. The government seizes and confiscates property linked to illegal activities, which is sold to fund crime prevention programs.

William Whyte is an eight-by-nine block neighbourhood in the inner-city, but is the city’s most violent, per the Winnipeg Police Service 2024 statistical report. It recorded 619 instances of violent crime, greater than the West Alexander neighbourhood’s 570 incidents, second on the list.

Warren estimates there are more than 200 vacant or derelict properties in the neighbourhood. He wants to see the area he’s lived in for decades cleaned up.

“We know there’s no shortage of crime in our neighbourhood,” he said. “We want to get ahead of it.”

Sel Burrows, who was behind the Point Douglas tip line, is actively looking for a successor owing to his age and declining use in the service.

When Burrows initiated the tip line, Point Douglas had the highest rate of violent crime in Canada and 10 and 15 calls were made per day.

These days, there are three to four calls per week.

“I see it as a good thing,” he said. “The situation in Point Douglas is in way better shape than it’s ever been… the community is looking out for each other.”

Burrows credits the line for reducing the number of drug dealers in the area to three, from 32 in 2007 when the project began.

Police data shows crime in the neighbourhood has decreased five per cent in the last year and 3.5 per cent over five years.

He says all inner-city neighbourhoods grappling with crime and violence should have a tip line.

“Any inner-city neighbourhood that has poverty and racism will have a crime issue, but things can get better,” Burrows said. “You can’t hire enough police officers or emergency personnel, you need to get community involved.”

MLA Malaya Marcelino helped set up a tip line in the Notre Dame constituency in 2021. It encompasses the Sargent Park, Daniel McIntyre and West Alexander neighbourhoods.

Residents asked for action on illegally dumped garbage and other concerns, which she says have been addressed owing to the project.

“My constituents were very happy because we got suspected drug dealing properties shut down,” she said. “We deserve to live in clean, safe, beautiful spaces.”

Warren is hosting an official launch of the William Whyte tip line on Oct. 20 at Pritchard Park from noon to 1:30 p.m.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca