Newly updated regulations mean that participants in the government’s community safety officer (CSO) program — which includes a First Nations contingent — will now receive advanced training in enforcement procedures such as “searches and seizures; detentions and arrests; crisis response tactics and strategies; road safety and traffic enforcement,” states a March 4 news release.
They will also learn about “Indigenous awareness and community diversity.”
Training is currently being done through Brandon’s Assiniboine Community College, around 225 kilometres west of Winnipeg.
The role of community and First Nations CSOs — who are described in the release as having “the powers and protections of a peace officer” — is to assist local law enforcement in routine, community-level policing, thus allowing police to put greater resources into tackling the more complex criminal cases.
According to Manitoba’s Police Services Act, community and First Nations CSOs are armed with handcuffs, a baton and an “aerosol weapon.”
“In 2023, the Manitoba legislative assembly passed Bill 34, the Police Services Amendment Act,” it states. “Bill 34 expands the role of safety officers in assisting their local policing authority and enables safety officers to provide an initial response to safety threats and detain individuals posing a safety threat.”
In a statement, Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe called them “an integral part of the public safety landscape.”
“The Police Services Amendment Act and updated safety officer regulations will expand the scope and authority of safety officers to respond to safety threats, enforce provincial and First Nation laws, and assist law enforcement, freeing up Manitoba’s police services to respond to complex crime,” said Wiebe.
The expansion of CSO powers also applies to First Nations safety officers.
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief Garrison Settee spoke of the “vision” of safe and healthy communities.
“The close collaboration between MKO and Manitoba Justice is an example of how First Nations and government can work creatively and positively together to support and pursue public safety and well-being in First Nation communities,” he said.
The program was started several years ago as a pilot project in the city of Thompson, where a handful of CSOs were deployed to assist local law enforcement with acts such as advancing crime prevention; enforcing some provincial laws dealing with liquor and gaming, detaining intoxicated people and helping with incidents involving mental illness. They were also tasked with connecting people with social services.
According to Manitoba Justice's Safety Officer Program (SOP) information page, the creation of the SOP was to have a “layered policing model to support community safety.”
“The [SOP] allows communities to take ownership of their own safety plans by providing resources to address less serious criminal issues stemming from social issues such as homelessness, addiction and mental health,” it states. “Additionally, the SOP provides support to police agencies to unburden them from social issue management allowing them to focus on serious criminal matters.”
It notes that the Police Services Act requires that SOPs “be owned and managed by the Municipality,” and that CSO’s “are hired by and are employees of the Municipality.”
A request sent to a government spokesperson for more details about CSOs and their role was not returned by press time.
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