Police already riding Winnipeg Transit buses to improve safety: deputy chief

Police officers have already started riding Winnipeg Transit buses to improve safety for drivers and passengers, despite a formal plan still being a "work in progress."

Members of the Winnipeg Police Board were presented on Friday with theplan toput police officers and cadets on transit buses. During the presentation,deputy police chief DaveThorne said it has already begun without a big"ribbon-cutting."

Earlier this week, chief Devon Clunissaid funding for the planhadalready been worked outbetween Winnipeg Transit and the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). However, there was no indication given that it had been launched.

The proposalcalls cadets toride on or check buses and bus shelters as part of theirduties, while officers, particularly downtown, will attempt to ridebuses during their shifts and when their duties allow.

Officers will also be encouragedto take the bus to their areas of assigned responsibilities, Clunis said on Monday as he outlined the plan that would be presented to the board.

• Police chief plans to put officers, cadets on Winnipeg Transit buses

The head of the union, JohnCallahan, alsospoke to the police board Friday, saying his members facecontinual threats ofviolence and intimidation while driving the buses and most major cities have some form of security on their transit systems.

Two-thirdsof the assaults drivers faceareoverfare collection, Callahan said, praising the initiative to have the officers and cadets on board.

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"Transit drivers are citizens and deserve protection," Thornetold the police board on Friday.

The board enthusiastically supported the plan, even though theWinnipeg Police Association (WPA) the union for rank-and-file officers earlier this weeksaidit had concerns.

• Winnipeg police union pans idea of cadets on transit buses

WPApresident Maurice Sabourin saidthecollective agreementprevents cadets from being used for "special enforcement projects," which he believes the bus patrols would be.

The agreement also prevents cadets from being put at risk of incidents such as the ones transit drivers have reported,Sabourin said, noting cadets don't carry guns andare not as well-equipped as police officers.

"They only have intermediate weapons which doesn't allow them to deal with, say, a knife attack or a lethal force encounter," he said Tuesday, ahead of Friday's meeting.

"Safety is a huge issue because on a moving bus, there's no escape route for them if they get into a situation where they'd have to turn and run."

On Friday,Thorne thanked the WPAfor its input and agreedthere are some things the cadets cannot do because "they are not officers." Instead, it is hoped their presence alone will act as a deterrent, he said.

"They are a presence for crime prevention. They areambassadors," he said.

Thorne told the board the strategy is a "work in progress" and stillneeds plenty of scrutiny.

"It's not cut in stone," he said, adding thestrategy will be based on data and adjusted accordingly.