Winnipeg police buy new armoured vehicle, partly because of New Brunswick attack

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg police service has spent $343,000 on a new armoured tactical vehicle, saying the decision was made in part because of last year’s targeted attack on police officers in Moncton, N.B.

Supt. Gord Perrier says the force had opportunities in the past to buy a used one from the armed forces, but didn’t because they were concerned about the militarization of police.

He says that changed after last year’s deadly shooting rampage in Moncton, where three police officers were killed and two wounded by Justin Bourque, who was 24 at the time.

Bourque is now serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 75 years.

Winnipeg had been one of the few large cities in Canada without an armoured vehicle, though RCMP in the province do have one of their own.

Perrier says it will be used primarily for rescue missions and transporting personnel in high-risk situations, such as armed standoffs or explosives investigations.

Perrier says he wants to reassure the public the vehicle is not a combat weapon.

“There are a number of moving parts on the vehicle that enable us to do specific types of rescue operations,” he says. “However, we guarantee that we will not be placing armaments fixed to this vehicle. Ever.”

Criminologist Michael Weinrath says the image of a militarized police does send the wrong message, especially at a time when budgets are tight and crimes statistics are actually dropping.

“Suddenly, you see this big, black armoured vehicle rolling down the street,” says Weinrath. “The message is, ‘we’re afraid of people.’ “

But Moe Sabourin of the city’s police association says it’s only a matter of time before something happens in the city on a larger scale.

“We did struggle with this decision, but … at the end of the day, we have officers and members of the public that are put at great peril,” says Perrier. “Putting a monetary value on life is very difficult.”

Steve Gillingham, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, says they reviewed the purchase in September but were never consulted about it.

He says in the future that the service will come forward earlier when they want to make a big purchase.

Mayor Brian Bowman says he has no problem with the purchase, saying that the police should be trusted to invest in equipment that will help them keep the community and their force safe.

(CJOB, CTV Winnipeg)