Getting Police Officers Back on the Street and Out of ER Waiting Rooms

On any given night, up to 14 Winnipeg police officers can be stuck in emergency rooms waiting with individuals in custody. That means 7 police cars taken off our roads, unavailable to answer 911 calls or patrol our neighbourhoods.

Today, I unveiled a practical, common-sense plan to fix this: the Hospital Custody Relief Team.

By stationing Auxiliary Force Cadets at Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital, cadets who are already trained and legally authorized for this role will take over custody duties at ERs. This simple step immediately frees up sworn police officers to get back on duty where Winnipeggers need them most.

Because this issue stems from justice system processing delays, Klein is calling on the provincial government to cover 50% of the $2 million annual cost ($1 million).

No new legislation required. Just smart decisions and change that makes sense.