City Council Story

Winnipeg city council unanimously voted to hire 58 more police officers over the next two years at its Wednesday morning meeting.

They plan to assign 20 more officers to the gang unit, 20 to foot patrol and 18 to general patrol in hopes of reducing crime.

Though all the councillors voted for the additional officers, there were some concerns from some of them, including Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, and Coun. Russ Wyatt, about how much money will be spent and where it's coming from.

Coun. Scott Fielding, finance committee chair, said that this year they've put away around $1.1 million for the plan, and by the end of 2012, when all the officers will be hired and in training by, they will spend just over $4 million.

Coun. Fielding said it's all about making priorities, and spending the citizens' money wisely. "According to citizen concerns for crime and safety, we've identified the new police officers as a priority."

Mayor Sam Katz said that many of the citizens he talked to were concerned about crime and safety and supportive of the increase in police officers. "Everyone thinks it's a positive thing, at least every door I knocked on."

Catherine Hay*, a 21-year-old University of Winnipeg student and a former downtown resident, said she is happy to know that the police in high-risk areas will be increased but isn't sure it's going to work.

"When I was 18 I moved to an apartment downtown and I loved being so central," said Hay*. "But I had to move because I didn't feel safe with all the gangs around."

Hay* recalls the sound of gunshots and breaking glass, and how scared she was. "At first I thought everything would be good. I spent a lot of downtown during the day and I really wanted to live there. But then I experienced downtown at night, and I didn't like it."

Hay* now lives in St. Vital and says she's much happier, and feels a lot safer. She says she wishes she could still live downtown, close to her school and favourite stores and restaurants but is afraid that it won't happen soon.

"From what I understand, the idea is to hopefully reduce crime over the next two years, but I think it's going to take longer than that," said Hay. "I've seen the gang members and they're stuck in a rut, it's going to be hard to get them to leave their lives of crime."

*Name has been changed at the request of the subject.