April 27, 2015
Manitoba Government Announces Community Safety Officer Program to Launch in Thompson
THOMPSON—Work is underway to launch Manitoba’s first community safety officer (CSO) program in Thompson, Justice Minister James Allum announced here today.
“The new CSO program will enhance crime prevention and improve public safety,” said Minister Allum. “We would like to congratulate the City of Thompson for being a leader in establishing this program and look forward to learning from their experiences as CSOs expand into more communities.”
The City of Thompson is currently recruiting eight CSOs and plans to have this group in place by June 15. Once operational, they will work with local law enforcement to:
- implement crime prevention strategies and initiatives;
- enforce some provincial laws, like the Liquor and Gaming Control Act, the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act, the Child and Family Services Act, the Mental Health Act and the Highway Traffic Act;
- connect social service providers with people in need; and
- maintain a visible presence in the community.
“The community safety officer program is part of the overall Downtown Strategy for our community,” said Mayor Dennis Fenske, City of Thompson. “It provides the resources to address downtown issues more effectively. This pilot program will also support and enhance the efforts of Project Northern Doorway, which is demonstrating positive results and will provide a model for other communities in Manitoba. We appreciate the support of the provincial government as we move this important project forward for all Thompson residents.”
Community safety officers will be municipal employees and must complete a training program that includes a classroom component and field training, with a focus on crime prevention, victim services and public safety. CSOs will not be involved in criminal matters.
“Crime prevention is key for the RCMP,” said Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau, commanding officer of the RCMP in Manitoba. “The launch of the CSO program in Thompson demonstrates a collaborative effort toward preventing crime and addressing social issues, which brings us closer to our ultimate goal – making the community safer.”
Minister Allum noted the Manitoba government will help fund the first two years of the CSO program with the City of Thompson. This partnership will also result in an evaluation process to review best practices and lessons learned about the implementation and operation of community safety officers, he added, noting this information will be used to help Thompson and other communities across the province implement successful and sustainable CSO programs.
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