Organizations support Winnipeg police 'taking action' in crackdown on open drug use: letter

Organizations in the area of Maryland and Sherbrook streets have written an open letter in support of a recent Winnipeg police crackdown on open drug use and drug trafficking.

Organizations support Winnipeg police 'taking action' in crackdown on open drug use: letter Resource centre's executive director says recent initiative did more harm than good Organizations in the area of Maryland and Sherbrook streets have written an open letter in support of a recent Winnipeg police crackdown on open drug use and drug trafficking. "The drugs being used cause extreme changes in behaviour, and we have seen serious violent harm to individuals using public space simply to get to needed amenities like thrift stores, local pools and grocery stores," the letter, dated Tuesday, said.

The letter is supported by the West End Business Improvement Zone, Lion's Manor, Winnipeg School Division, West Broadway Youth Outreach and the Just Like New To You Thrift Shop. "Taking no action will lead to the perpetuation of cyclical violence and trauma as toddlers are exposed to violence, high school students are exposed to gangs and drugs and employees, volunteers and health-care workers feel afraid to go to work in their neighbourhood." "For this reason, we support the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Police Service taking action to address public intoxication and drug use and the violent consequences we have witnessed."

The 10-day enforcement crackdown ended on July 3. The initiative was in response to community members and businesses calling for officials to address open drug use and crime in hot spots around the city, not to criminalize addiction, police Chief Gene Bowers said at a news conference on June 26. Police have yet to release details on how the initiative went since it ended.

Lorie English, executive director of the West Central Women's Resource Centre, says the Winnipeg Police Service is expected to consult with outreach organizations later this week. Joe Kornelsen, executive director of the West End BIZ, says it has been hearing positive reactions from the community about the initiative. "Yeah, the reports that we got from the area was that things did improve," Kornelsen said.

"Ultimately, what the priority is, is related to violence and ensuring that there isn't violence or threats to employees happening on a regular basis, and that came down during that period." Kornelsen acknowledged more work needs to be done to address the root causes of drug addiction but said the initiative has been effective in reducing violent crime in the area. "We would like to see addictions be addressed, but the level of violence that we were experiencing was urgent, and it called for urgent action," Kornelsen said.

"Our focus is on crime. That is the angle of the open letter and what we saw police addressing in the area." English says the increased police presence did more harm than good.

"It's very difficult for us when we're building trusting relationships within a community that, you know, when they get severed by something like a strong police presence. It takes us much longer than the 10 days the sweeps were happening to rebuild that trust and get people to come back to access service again," English said. Winnipeg police taking 'zero-tolerance approach' to open drug use in 10-day crackdown Winnipeg police chief commits to working with outreach groups after crackdown on open drug use questioned English suspects a person recently overdosed near the resource centre on Ellice Avenue while trying to hide their drug use in a more concealed area.

"By the time we were alerted to the emergency, we were unable to revive them, which was an unfortunate outcome, but one that was not surprising given the fear that folks were feeling at the time," English said during an interview on CBC's Up to Speed. In an emailed response, police said they attended a medical call at "a green space" near the resource centre on June 30 and a man was taken to hospital by ambulance. It is not confirmed that this is the same person English was referring to, nor that the person she was referring to died from an overdose.

Mitch Bourbonniere is a community outreach worker with OPK Manitoba. He's been doing outreach work for 47 years and says he's never seen the situation on the streets worse than it is now. "It's very intense out there right now," Bourbonniere says.

He says the enforcement initiative shook up the community and instilled "a feeling of stress" for everyone. "It felt almost militarized out there on the street, and it was scary," Bourbonniere says. He said drug users scattered quickly after word got out that the crackdown was happening.

"Those are the folks we need to engage. We don't need them scattering, we need to engage them and steer them towards a better path," he says. "I'm not against the police.

We need the police. But go after the predators. The people using are victims.

The people selling are predators." With files from Emily Enns, and Cory Funk