Police plan for meeting space denounced by critics

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This article was published 09/04/2021 (1792 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Winnipeg Police Service has been panned for deciding to create a space near its headquarters where its members can meet with the public, including those who’ve protested against police.

The police service has issued a tender to produce a 2,200-square-foot room in the skywalk adjacent to police HQ on Smith Street.

Kelly Dehn, manager of public affairs, said the addition would enhance options for community outreach.

“We don’t have anything right now that allows us to really connect with our partners as easily. This is (the kind of) area that will allow us to do that… It could be for anything from crime prevention to recruiting to engaging with groups that have concerns about anything that we do,” said Dehn.

He said the room would make it easier to hold meetings with those who protest against police, when such sessions are requested.

“(This) space that we can use to connect with any community group, even those that… have a negative impression of police, would help us try to connect,” said Dehn.

He said police have held meetings with members of the public at HQ but doing so required time-consuming security clearances. The process can often take about a week per individual or longer for larger groups, he said.

“It’s hard to hold impromptu meetings with our partners, like other city agencies and community groups,” said Dehn.

He said the new room wouldn’t require security clearance, so police could host everything from citizenship ceremonies to training to recruiting sessions and meetings with members of the public more easily, once pandemic gathering restrictions ease.

The police department has budgeted $120,000 for the meeting space.

The move comes after some Winnipeggers have lashed out publicly against the service.

Protests against police brutality took place in Winnipeg and around the world in recent months, sparking greater public scrutiny and criticism of police forces. Winnipeg city council has also been lobbied by the group Budget for All to divert 10 per cent, or about $30 million, of the annual police budget to recreation and community services.

Some police critics say they’re not interested in face-to-face options to speak with members of the WPS.

“This is just a public ploy to make it seem like they are more approachable in the face of defunding (pressure),” said Chantale Garand, a member of Budget for All.

Garand said she doesn’t see a need to invest any money in a police meeting place. She believes the cash would be better spent on 24/7 safe spaces. She noted Winnipeggers can publicly address police at Winnipeg Police Board meetings, which are held in the city council building.

“I flatly don’t think that this is what the community has been asking for at all,” she said.

An organizer with the group Millennium For All, which has also lobbied to defund police, echoed that view.

“(The) community has been extremely clear about the goal of defunding the police to fund life-sustaining services like libraries, pools, leisure guide activities, safe consumption sites and other things. There’s no need to do further consultation,” said Joe Curnow, in an emailed statement.

Bids for the meeting space will be accepted until May 7.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga