Winnipeg police headquarters, 245 Smith Street (GOOGLE STREET VIEW)
The Winnipeg Police Association is calling on Mayor Brian Bowman and city council to enact secure parking facilities for its members when leaving and arriving to work.
An off-duty officer was stabbed in December when leaving the downtown WPS headquarters following a late-night shift.
“Less than two months later, we have yet another serious incident, one where the suspect motioned to produce a weapon, which could have turned into a much more serious situation,” said WPA president Maurice (Moe) Sabourin.
Sabourin says the WPA has written to the provincial government due to “inaction by WPS leadership” surrounding the issue.
“In what other workplace would management tolerate an environment where employees are stabbed or assaulted coming to and leaving work? The silence on this issue is deafening,” added Sabourin.
The union says it has more than 100 incidents documented where its members were either seriously assaulted, threated or had their vehicles sabotaged while attending or leaving work.
The WPA says it has reached out to Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade seeking further action on the issue.
The Smith Street police headquarters has a parking garage, but only accommodates police service vehicles. Officers and civilian members use neighbouring lots or street parking for their personal vehicles.
