Brandon police to get armoured vehicle

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This article was published 01/06/2019 (2481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon Police Service has received almost $400,000 in funding from the provincial government to purchase an armoured rescue vehicle (ARV), which will be used to respond to critical incidents across southwestern Manitoba.

The vehicle will ensure officer and public safety during firearms-related incidents and other tactical responses, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen said during a funding announcement in Brandon on Friday, and will not only be available to Brandon police but to police agencies across Westman.

“We were just reminded how dangerous policing can be,” Cullen said, referring to the stabbing of a Manitoba First Nations Police Service officer in Waywayseecappo First Nation Wednesday night.

“We as a government want to make sure that police agencies across the province have the tools to protect their community and … the tools to protect themselves and carry out the important work they do day in and day out.”

The vehicle is a welcome addition to the police force, police Chief Wayne Balcaen said, especially as the Crime Severity Index continues to rise across Manitoba.

There’s been an increase in the number of weapons and firearms police are seeing on the street, Balcaen said, which correlates with the increase in methamphetamine and other illegal addictive substances in Brandon.

BPS’s Tactical Response Team, on average, is called out once or twice a year, Balcaen said.

Last year, the team was deployed 14 times.

“There is a changing landscape,” Balcaen said. “The violence, as it increases, so does our need for protection for our officers and for the citizens. This is really going to be a major advantage for us.”

Balcaen said he wanted to make sure the vehicle — which is being funded through the Federal Proceeds of Crime Fund — is a shared asset between Brandon and surrounding communities.

“It’s just the right thing to do,” Balcaen said. “There’s only so many dollars that are available, no matter how you look at it. So sharing assets, knowledge and resources is at the top of our commitment in collaboration with our policing partners and with our other public-safety agencies … the ability that we have to leverage all of these different services allows us to punch above our weight.”

The ARV will be equipped with ballistic armour and has the capacity to carry up to 12 fully dressed tactical response members, Balcaen said.

All 12 members on the Tactical Response Team will receive specialized training to operate the vehicle, which can arrive anywhere from 10 weeks to six months depending on the procurement process.

The vehicle will also be customized to the tactical unit’s needs, Balcaen said, noting it will be used strictly for the safety of officers and citizens.

“This is definitely not a move toward militarization,” Balcaen said. “We are still very adamant that we are a police service that is engaged in our community and very strong representation to community policing and community initiatives. This is a tool that will help protect the safety of our citizens and our members.”

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