Posted: Mar 05, 2021 7:13 PM CT | Last Updated: March 6
Winnipeg Police Association president Moe Sabourin made known the union s plans for an external survey and assessment in a letter addressed to Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth Friday.(CBC News)
The union that represents Winnipeg police officers is seeking an outside organization to conduct an assessment of the police force to address what it sees as a morale crisis among its members.
The Winnipeg Police Association, which represents nearly 1,900 members, has already started contacting Canadian organizations with an expertise in objective surveys and assessments, and plans to soon implement a process to learn how low morale really is, said union president Moe Sabourin in a letter addressed to Chief Danny Smyth.
Posted: Mar 04, 2021 8:36 PM CT | Last Updated: March 5
Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth said acknowledges there has been criticism of his leadership, but says the pandemic has made communication difficult with officers. (Trevor Brine/CBC)
The recent death of a police officer has pushed morale in the Winnipeg Police Service to what some officers describe as the worst they ve ever seen, and they blame the service s chief for allowing it to happen.
Numerous members of the service who spoke to CBC say the officer took his own life, in part, because he was profoundly shaken by the pressure and criticism brought on by the social movements to reform and defund police services.
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The head of the Winnipeg police union believes morale among rank-and-file officers has sunk so low, especially after the recent suicide of a constable, that it can never be mended by Chief Danny Smyth.
The head of the Winnipeg police union believes morale among rank-and-file officers has sunk so low, especially after the recent suicide of a constable, that it can never be mended by Chief Danny Smyth. There s no way he can repair this, said Moe Sabourin, president of the Winnipeg Police Association, on Thursday. I don t believe there s anything this chief can do to repair the morale problem.
Winnipeg Free Press
Last Modified: 10:06 AM CST Thursday, Mar. 4, 2021 | Updates
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth launched an internal investigation into fake “member updates” bulletins issued by the chief that are riddled with sarcasm and target fellow officers.
Tensions have erupted between Winnipeg’s police chief and rank-and-file officers over reaction from the top brass to the sudden deaths of two veteran cops, including one said to be distraught over anti-police sentiment.
Tensions have erupted between Winnipeg’s police chief and rank-and-file officers over reaction from the top brass to the sudden deaths of two veteran cops, including one said to be distraught over anti-police sentiment.