Portage La Prairie

Contact Information:
340 Lorne Avenue East
Portage la Prairie, MB
R1N 3M8
Ph: (204) 857-4445
Fax: (204) 239-0130

Location:
The detachment provides policing services to the City of Portage la Prairie, the RM of Portage la Prairie andNorth Norfolk. The detachment also polices three (3) First Nation settlements (Dakota Tipi, Dakota Plains and Long Plain). Within the Rural Municipalities, Portage la Prairie Detachment also provides policing service to the communities of Oakville, St. Ambroise, Delta Beach, High Bluff, Oakland, MacDonald, Poplar Point, MacGregor, Austin, Sydney and twelve (12) Hutterite Colonies.

Local Population:
The population of Portage la Prairie is approximately 13,000 people. The rural population is approximately 9,000 people.

RCMP Detachment:
The detachment consists of 39 regular members. Twenty-six members are attached to the Municipal Policing Contract, and are supported by six Municipal Employees. The Rural component consists of 13 members and four Public Service Employees. Traffic Services unit consists of five members. Portage la Prairie also has a Victim Services worker. There is a one-person Police Service Dog Section, which serves most of south-western Manitoba. The detachment maintains a fleet of 17 vehicles, three of which are unmarked, and two snowmobiles.

COMMUNITY-BASED PROBLEM SOLVING:

Often, groups are already in place to deal with ongoing concerns or community projects. The following details what community challenges are being addressed by the members of the RCMP in partnership with their community. The major working groups include:

"Lock It Up”: The program was developed in response to a rash of auto thefts. The committee distributed informational pamphlets on parked vehicles, in which an exterior security check of the vehicles was conducted along with a visual interior inventory. A notice was placed on the windshield reporting the findings and on the back of the informational paper we listed some tips on how to prevent vehicle theft.

Manitoba Developmental Centre: This adult institution houses approximately 500 adults with mental disabilities. This detachment has historically experienced great difficulty in investigating files from the institution. In order to address these difficult situations, members from the detachment developed partnerships between the Manitoba Developmental Centre administration, the Crown attorney, public trustees, and the crime prevention office. The Community Justice Forum model has been introduced to the Manitoba Developmental Centre and adapted for their special needs.

Women's Shelter: Our positive relationship with the Portage Women's shelter, the second largest in Manitoba, continues. Realizing domestic violence needs to be addressed, this detachment has fostered a partnership with employees of the local shelter. As part of their orientation at the detachment, new RCMP members are given a tour of the shelter which affords them the opportunity to speak with staff. Existing security protocol is very strict and there are no deviations for anyone.

Fire Stop: Partnered with the City of Portage la Prairie's Fire Department in the delivery of their Fire Stop Program. The program responds to the issue that juvenile arson arrests exceed adult arson arrests. The goals of this program are to stop curiosity fire setters, reduce property damage and prevent the child fire setter from becoming the adult fire setter. Our detachment has incorporated itself into the program's delivery–in addition to youth having to attend sessions with the fire department, the fire setter must attend the detachment, and speak to an officer on the applicable laws and consequences of fire setting.

Other groups in Portage la Prairie:

• Youth for Christ
• The Quest Group Home
• Development Committee
• Friendship Centre
• Youth Drop In Centre

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RESTORATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE:

Nationwide, members of the RCMP are involved in alternative justice processes, whether volunteering as facilitators or sitting on steering committees. Each community may embrace a different form of restorative justice, be it community justice forums, circle sentencing, or mediation.

Community Justice Forums: Restorative Justice continues to be a consideration in all investigational files. Detachment policy requires all investigational files to be considered for extra-judicial measures.

Youth Justice Committee: Working with young offenders as a diversion from the normal court process. A member from this detachment is in attendance at each of the monthly meetings and two members of this detachment are volunteers on this committee.

Manitoba Developmental Centre Community Justice Forum: An in-house community justice forum is now in place at the Manitoba Developmental Centre. Two members of the RCMP are on the steering committee.

CRIME PREVENTION:

Members of the RCMP are involved with a number of programs designed to prevent crime in our communities through both indirect and direct intervention. From school talks to youth initiatives and community safety plans, the goal of crime prevention programs is to target the roots of potential criminal and social problems. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

Citizens on Patrol Program: The program is administered through the detachment Community Policing Office and the Media Relations Officer C.O.P.P.. members are kept informed of crime trends and areas to be aware of in the City. The C.O.P.P. group is also responsible for the City Residential Check Program. C.O.P.P. members, while on patrol check on the residences of people away on holidays or out of the City for an extended period of time. A daily log is kept of activity around the property.

Fatal-Vision Goggles: This detachment has purchased two pairs of “fatal vision” goggles to raise awareness about impaired driving. These goggles simulate the visual effects of alcohol and drug impairment. The decision to purchase them came after members attended a local high school with fatal vision goggles that had been borrowed from Manitoba Public Insurance.

Community Consultative Group: The group is made up of a cross-section of residents of the City of Portage la Prairie including seniors, business owners, clergy, youth, the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie and citizens at large. The group meets regularly to discuss issues or concerns within the Detachment area and relay these concerns to Police.

Drug Presentation Kit: The acquisition of a detachment drug kit has provided a very visual effect to “Drug” presentations at the schools. The kit contains simulated drugs which imitate drugs which are available on the street.

Internet Safety: In response to the growing number of youth using the Internet in their homes – and requests from concerned parents on how to regulate and monitor their children while online – members from this detachment have shown great initiative in dealing with this problem.

Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) Program: D.A.R.E.> is a 10-week program which is delivered by a Police officer to educate the students on the harmful effects of drugs and provides them with the tools to “Say No and to Resist Violence”. Five members at the Detachment are trained as instructors of this course.

Other Crime Prevention Programs include:

• Auxiliary Constables
• School Liaison
• Bullying Talks
• Parents on Patrol
• Snowman & Club SNO
• Neighbourhood Watch
• Rural Crime Watch
• Bicycle Patrols
• Bicycle Rodeos
• School Talks
• Ecstasy Pamphlet
• Christmas Check Stop
• Shifting Gears
• Adopt-a-Mountie
• Operation Identification
• Youth Fire Stop Program
• Block Parent Program
• Combat Auto Theft Program (CAT)
• Kidz Printz Program
• Partners Promoting Healthy Youth
• Residential Check Program

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POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS:

Without a solid base upon which to work, the police cannot hope to build the necessary partnerships with the community to prevent crime and to solve community problems. Members of the RCMP strive to build those bridges by appreciating the needs of the communities in which they work and live. Their commitment to the community goes beyond simple participation as residents, but also as active members of the community. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

• Liaison with First Nations Communities
• Red Serge Duty
• Pumper Pull
• Golf Tournament
• Adopt-a-Mountie
• Work Experience Program

QUALITY SERVICE THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS:

The community also benefits directly and indirectly from strategic partnerships that the RCMP forms with other law enforcement and governmental agencies as well as with as with other community groups. Several unique associations have been formed:

• Liaison with the Portage la Prairie City Council
• Liaison with the Rural Municipal Council
• Media Liaison
• Portage General Hospital
• Child Abuse Committee and Protocol
• Portage la Prairie School Division