BPS has seized 104 kg of meth this year

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This article was published 02/11/2024 (581 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Officers have seized about 104.7 kilograms of methamphetamine so far this year, the Brandon Police Board heard at its Friday meeting.

It was new Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates’ first police board meeting since being officially sworn in earlier this week.

He said that statistic, as well as an increase in calls for service, help illustrate the substance abuse crisis within the city.

As of the end of this September, calls for service are up 2.76 per cent compared to the same point last year.

Some of that increase in calls, the chief said, comes from property crimes like arson, thefts from vehicles, damage to vehicles and shoplifting.

“That’s not uncommon when you’re grappling with a substance abuse issue,” Bates said.

“If you have such substance abuse issues in the community, you’re going to have some of those increases in property crime as it relates to having the ability to procure and obtain those illegal substances that cost money.”

The chief said BPS has seen a spike in people being charged with breaching the court-ordered conditions of their release from custody as a result of officers being more proactive in making sure people are abiding by their terms.

Another thing that has increased in 2024 is criminal record checks being processed. So far this year, 3,810 have been processed compared to 3,611 at the same time last year.

“I’m not sure what the trend is and why that trend is showing a spike,” Bates said. “Whether that’s just broader awareness of the availability of that service provided or just a reliance on employers in terms of their background checks, including that in their hiring processes.”

In early October, the Retail Council of Canada held a summit in Winnipeg about retail crime that the BPS participated in.

While Bates said retail crime in Brandon is not at the same magnitude as in the provincial capital, he said it’s still a concern from the local business community.

He said the BPS is awaiting approval for a project proposal to tackle retail crime that it has submitted.

So far in 2024, he said 37 people have participated in ride-alongs with BPS officers. Of those, eight were students of the public safety course at Assiniboine College, 11 were students from the Manitoba First Nations Police Service.

According to Bates’ report, BPS is projecting a $741,000 surplus in 2024 after completing a budget review in 2024.

Of that total, $673,000 comes from a surplus in operating costs while $68,000 comes from the police vehicles budget.

Factors in the operational surplus include:

• A $1.151-million decrease in expenses due to the management of vacancies

• A $85,000 increase in budgeted parking ticket revenue

• $71,000 in revenue from provincial funding for a missing person co-ordinator position

• $49,000 in projected fuel savings

• $33,000 in savings on operational travel

• $20,000 reduction in special operations overtime

• $19,000 in savings on vehicle leases

• $18,000 in funding from Manitoba Public Insurance for RoadWatch campaigns

• $10,000 in extra revenue from property auctions and small fees

• A $10,000 decrease in signing bonuses for new officers

• $9,000 in provincial funding for approved screening devices for testing drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol

• $7,000 in savings from the youth explorer program not running in 2024

• $7,000 in savings on guard services

• $7,000 in savings on supplies for detention cells

• $4,000 in savings on drone insurance

• $3,000 in extra revenue from compliance tickets

• $2,000 in extra revenue from special duties

Higher than expected expenses include:

• $125,000 in anticipated costs for the purchase of an electric vehicle and installation of a charging station

• $96,000 for the purchase of tactical vests and helmets

• $90,000 in the operational overtime budget

• A $74,000 reduction in National Weapons Enforcement Support Team fee recoveries due to a vacant position

• $71,000 for the purchase of 15 handheld radios

• $47,000 in expenses associated with the recruit class initiative

• $42,000 in recruitment costs for the new police chief

• $40,000 increase in vacation time transferred to RRSPs as allowed for in collective agreements

• $37,000 in extra background check fees associated with new hires

• $35,000 in increased professional development costs

• $33,000 more than expected in taser and ammunition supplies,

• $18,000 in expenses associated for the MPI RoadWatch program

• A $15,000 reduction in traffic ticket revenue,

• $11,000 in extra small equipment purchases

• $10,000 in software purchases for the tech crimes unit

• $9,000 for alcohol screening devices

• $8,000 in extra costs for renting a downtown office for the community cadets program

• $5,000 increase in promotional and recruitment expenses

• $5,000 in small budget variances

• $2,000 reduction in training revenue

Board member Shannon Brichon said a lot of the extra overtime costs came when Brandon was hosting wildfire evacuees earlier this year.

Insp. Greg Hebert said preliminary conversations have been held with Manitoba Justice about BPS being reimbursed for some of those costs.

“They weren’t opposed, but it’s a conversation as we move forward,” Hebert said.

“Our costs were roughly $50,000 for the month of August.”

Following up, Bates said they don’t have any issue with Brandon being a hub for evacuees, “but there has to be come acknowledgment of the increased costs that are borne as a result,” especially given wildfire and climate trends.

As he gets the lay of the land, Bates said he has had a busy few weeks of travelling back and forth to Winnipeg for meetings and to reacquaint himself with the Manitoba policing community.

Going forward, he said he is working to have coffee chats will all the members of BPS staff and familiarize himself with daily operations.

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