Winnipeg Police Service officers used force in a slightly higher percentage of calls last year and pulled out their Tasers more often.
Police filed 863 use of force reports in 2023, which applied to about 0.35 per cent of the 247,373 cases where officers were dispatched to calls, a new report notes.
The rate is just above a 0.33 per cent five-year average.
“When you’re looking at the types of calls that are coming in (often involving) mental health and addictions, it’s pretty much unpredictable to determine exactly how those calls are going to go, in terms of how much aggression the individual is showing. So, it’s not surprising to see a slight increase based on the types of calls that they are servicing. But, overall, it would be great to get those numbers right down,” said Markus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, which oversees the WPS.
Smyth steps away from operations
WPS Chief Danny Smyth
The Winnipeg Police Service has a new leader for its day-to-day operations.
Winnipeg Police Board chairman Markus Chambers said WPS Chief Danny Smyth served his last day “operationally” heading the force last Friday. His official departure from the role is scheduled for Sept. 1.
“Deputy Chief Art Stannard is now the acting chief until we hire a new chief,” said Chambers.
The Winnipeg Police Service has a new leader for its day-to-day operations.
Winnipeg Police Board chairman Markus Chambers said WPS Chief Danny Smyth served his last day “operationally” heading the force last Friday. His official departure from the role is scheduled for Sept. 1.
“Deputy Chief Art Stannard is now the acting chief until we hire a new chief,” said Chambers.
”Chief Smyth is going to focus on his role (as president) with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.”
Chambers said an announcement to name Winnipeg’s next permanent police chief is likely still a month or two away, while more details will be shared on the current situation at Friday’s police board meeting. A WPS official said Smyth will answer questions on the topic that day.
Chambers said the board has already ratified the operational change.
“It changes nothing in the sense of Chief Smyth’s title. It’s just his responsibilities shift…. The day-to-day operations of the Winnipeg Police Service will fall on the responsibility of acting chief Stannard,” said Chambers.
The search for Smyth’s long-term replacement has been underway for months, after the chief announced his retirement plans in December. Smyth is the city’s 18th chief of police and the first one selected by the police board. He has served as a member of the WPS for more than 38 years.
Stannard, the WPS deputy chief of support services, has taken on the duties of chief before. Back in 2016, he covered the role on a temporary basis during the leadup to former chief Devon Clunis’s retirement.
Chambers said Stannard’s experience will help ensure a smooth transition.
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Many suspects are now more likely to be armed with knives and other bladed objects.
“We’re hearing that a lot more (of the) younger adults that are apprehended by police are carrying edged weapons,” Chambers said.
The report also notes police either displayed or used a conducted-energy weapon (Taser) 302 times last year, up from a five-year average of 242.
“The CEW remains the most used intermediate weapon and most effective level of control, with the least likelihood of causing injury, compared to physical control techniques,” it states.
Last year, there were three police-involved shootings and three fatalities, compared to three shootings and two fatalities for the five-year average.
Police forces have faced increased scrutiny over use of force since May 2020, when George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police during an arrest. Protests against police brutality followed around the world.
By June 2020, participants at Winnipeg rallies called on the City of Winnipeg to defund and abolish the WPS. Advocates have since repeatedly called on city council to reduce the police budget and cut equipment, such as the helicopter and armed rescue vehicle.
There have also been calls to equip WPS officers with body-worn cameras to better monitor interactions, though Chambers said no decision will be made until after the next police chief is hired; Danny Smyth will officially retire in September.
Another police report released Monday details criminal flight pursuits in 2023, chases the WPS describes as “a last resort.”
There were 66 pursuits reported in 2023, down from 79 in 2022, 91 in 2021 and 122 in 2020. Officers aborted 46 of the 66 pursuits last year, or about 70 per cent, due to the risk to public safety, according to the report.
Police say 30 of the 66 involved stolen vehicles.
The report notes arrest rates from pursuits rise to 50 per cent when the police helicopter was included, up from 26 per cent without it.
While some have questioned whether police need a helicopter, Chambers said the police board supports the aircraft.
“It is costly. But when it comes to safety… this is an investment.… It makes our streets safer (during) high-speed chases,” he said.
WPS credits the chopper for helping prevent injuries to officers, suspects and others. A past WPS report notes the flight operations unit cost $2.6 million to run in 2022.
Meanwhile, the WPS armoured rescue vehicle was deployed 76 times for tactical operations last year, including 57 Criminal Code search warrant events related to firearms and murder investigations, as well as one hostage situation.
The vehicle was also used in 19 unplanned events, 16 of which involved suspected firearms. And it was taken to 16 public engagements, including the Santa Claus Parade.
A third report notes WPS received 68 complaints to its professional standards unit in 2023, down from a five-year average of 75.6. There were also four allegations of biased policing, up from a five-year average of 1.6.
WPS officials declined to speak about the annual reports on those topics until after the documents are presented to the police board Friday.
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Report from the Chief of Police
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.
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