The Manitoba government is providing more than $200,000 from the proceeds of crime fund to the Brandon Police Service (BPS) for crime prevention and safety initiatives in the Brandon community, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced here today.
“Our government is pleased to provide this funding to BPS for these important initiatives, which help keep Brandon’s communities safe and help fund crime prevention,” said Goertzen. “Forfeiture funds result from confiscated property or proceeds of unlawful activity. Through the provincial government, the funds are allocated into programs, equipment and initiatives that support victims of crime, crime prevention in the community and innovation and equipment in law enforcement agencies.”
(Image – Brandon Police Service – Facebook)
The minister noted BPS is receiving $211,000 through the Criminal Property Forfeiture (CPF) program for equipment, safety and crime prevention programs. Brandon Police Service will use the funding to purchase technology to assist officers in operations and reduce crime by providing important new investigational tools.
“The Brandon Police Service is extremely pleased to be the recipient of over $210,000 from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund,” said Chief Wayne Balcaen, Brandon Police Service. “The 2022 funds will support our police service with training, technology and equipment that will ensure better community safety for years to come. It is always greatly satisfying to see finances removed from individuals engaged in unlawful activities and shared with police services to ensure we remain ‘Committed to Community Safety’.”
The Rural Municipality of Cornwallis police force will also receive $7,000 for in-car computer technology.
Since its inception in 2009, the CPF has distributed more than $20 million back to communities throughout the province. The CPF program forfeits and liquidates criminal assets and redirects funding to programs and initiatives designed to protect Manitobans and enhance public safety. The funds are provided to law enforcement agencies across Manitoba whose important initiatives continue t o build community, invest in youth and support victims of crime, noted the minister.
For more information about criminal property forfeiture, visit: Province of Manitoba | justice – Criminal Property Forfeiture (gov.mb.ca)
