The Manitoba government is providing more than $270,000 through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to the Brandon Police Service (BPS) for a variety of initiatives to help keep the community safe including hand-held drug testing devices, additional mental health supports for police officers and events to help build community, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced today.
“Every Manitoban deserves to feel safe in their community,” said Wiebe. “This funding will support important initiatives that will improve public safety for Brandon families. This is one part of our government’s plan to get tough on crime and the causes of crime in every region of this province.”
The funds will assist the Brandon Police Service to purchase required equipment, provide training and organize community events including:
- handheld drug testing devices which can instantly identify controlled substances;
- mental health supports for police officers and their families;
- funding to the organized crime unit to expand successful programs targeting organized crime; and
- additional emergency medical equipment such as backboards, first aid kits and ballistic blankets.
“Serving our community comes in many forms. The Brandon Police Service is committed to protecting the citizens of Brandon by fighting crime and combatting drug trafficking in our community,” said Chief Randy Lewis, Brandon Police Service. “Our officers require the tools to do this difficult work. We are also focused on continuing to build on the already strong relationship that we have with our Indigenous community in Brandon and surrounding area and we are excited to do so. Taking care of those that take care of our community is of the utmost importance and we are dedicated to developing and supporting the sworn and civilian staff at the Brandon Police Service with training and promoting mental health. Funding from the Manitoba government Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund will aid the Brandon Police Service in moving these important initiatives forward and we thank them for their ongoing support.”
The funding will be provided through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund, a program that uses the proceeds of the sale of seized criminal property to protect Manitoba families and enhance public safety. The funds are provided to organizations across Manitoba whose important initiatives build community, prevent crime, invest in youth and support victims of crime.
The minster noted an immediate action plan will be developed to address downtown safety concerns in Brandon in partnership with business, law enforcement and community partners.
For more information about criminal property forfeiture, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/justice/commsafe/cpf.
