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

Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis says officers and cadets will soon be riding Winnipeg Transit to ensure buses are safe for both passengers and drivers. Clunis outlinedthe plan in a report to the Winnipeg Police Board for its meeting Friday.

Funding for the safety campaignhas already been worked out with Winnipeg Transit, Clunis wrotein his report.

• Winnipeg Transit drivers face escalating violence, says union
• Oh, behave: Winnipeg Transit launches code of conduct
• Winnipeg Transit driver attacked on bus during afternoon rush hour

Winnipeg police cadets will ride transit buses and inspect shelters during the course of their regular duties, Clunissaid in the report.

Uniformed foot patrol officers will ride buses to their assigned areas of responsibility, he said, and bus routes that are experiencing high crime or disorder complaints could be targeted with different police tactics.

In January, theAmalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1505, which represents Winnipeg Transit drivers,reported violence against driverswas on the rise.

There were 60 reported assaults on drivers in 2015, said JohnCallahan, president of ATU Local 1505. That was a54 per cent increase over 2014.

In an email on Monday, St. Boniface Coun.Matt Allard praised Clunis' strategy for dealing with safety concerns on buses. Allard added one of his staff recently witnessed firsthand the difference police can make on buses.

"Saturday night, while riding the bus, my executive assistant witnessed a uniformed police officer and a transit staff person assisting an intoxicated man," wroteAllard.

"The police presence ensured the situation was handled safely and professionally to the benefit of the public, the driver and the individual himself."

Allardput forward a motion in Septembercalling for more undercover officers to monitorWinnipeg Transit.

• Coun. Matt Allard wants undercover cops on Winnipeg Transit buses

Winnipeg police's public information unit has been working with Winnipeg Transit on acode of conduct campaign since Jan. 18, Clunis wrote in his report to the police board.

The objective of the campaign is to both "educate citizens about proper conduct when using transit," he wrote, and "improve public image/perception of Winnipeg Transit and position the service as a safe and secure environment for employees and customers."