Latest news with #BrandonPoliceService
CBC
08-05-2025
- CBC
Officer stabbed twice in back by inmate at Brandon Correctional Centre, police say
Social Sharing A corrections officer was rushed to hospital in Brandon after being stabbed twice in the back by an inmate at the provincial jail, police say. The 47-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the stabbing on Monday, said police, who were called to the Brandon Correctional Centre around 8:45 p.m. A 41-year-old man is charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, aggravated assault of a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer causing bodily harm. The Brandon Police Service is "deeply concerned for the well-being of the staff member injured," and its major crimes unit is investigating, a news release said Wednesday. It did not identify the staff member's position at the medium-security facility, but Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, said it was a corrections officer. "It's a real unfortunate event, where one of our officers was attacked and stabbed while on the job," he said. "[It] must be very difficult for that worker right now. We haven't had an opportunity to connect [with] them [but] we're hoping we can soon." Ross doesn't know how long the officer has been working there. There are many staff in jails aside from corrections officers, including those in administration, health care, social work and counselling, rehabilitation, education, food services and maintenance. An internal review has been launched at the correctional centre to examine the circumstances and reinforce safety measures for both staff and inmates, the Brandon Police Service news release said. CBC News reached out to the province about the scope of the internal review, whether any immediate changes have been made and how long the review is expected to take. A spokesperson provided the following response: "Standard operational review, as would occur after every serious incident. No timeline." 'Challenging job' A 27-year-old inmate at the facility was charged just a few months ago with first-degree murder in the death of his 23-year-old cellmate. The cellmate was repeatedly punched and kicked, police said. He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries. "Working in correctional facilities is a challenging job, and right now, with the [inmate] counts being as high as they are, it's getting more challenging for our workers, and we're hopeful we can find ways to make it safer for them and the inmates they're in charge of," Ross said. The Brandon Correctional Centre has a capacity of 244 inmates. Ross was not sure how many are currently there. In comparison, "there is barely enough staff" to deal with the challenges, he said. "Workers are being stretched thinner than they'd like." Recruitment efforts by the province are underway, "but it's a difficult job to recruit for," Ross said. "When I speak to the officers, I hear it often: it's a very different job compared to 10 years ago. The inmates that are in these facilities are far more dangerous and more volatile than they were in the past." There are more gangs and illicit drug use among inmates, he said.
CBC
07-05-2025
- CBC
No charges in 2023 death of Brandon man who was in police custody: Watchdog
Manitoba's police watchdog says it's not pursuing charges in the death of a man who was in police custody in Brandon two years ago. The Independent Investigation Unit has wrapped up its investigation into the August 2023 death, which a medical examiner said was caused by methamphetamine toxicity. The man had been arrested for flight from police, breach of release and drug-related offences, and was being held in Brandon Police Service cells. He displayed "unusual behaviour" while he was in custody, the police watchdog said in a news release Wednesday. The man had fled from Brandon police on a motorcycle after being approached by an officer, who did not pursue him, said the IIU's civilian director's report on the death. He was later seen running in a ditch, and a foot chase culminated in his arrest on Aug. 19, 2023. Police reported to the IIU that shortly after the man returned to his camera-monitored cell from a bail hearing, the man was behaving unusually, so officers checked on him and looked around his cell, but the man said he wasn't doing anything. The civilian director said that based on video footage, it was clear the man lifted up the corner of his cell's mattress and picked up something off the cell floor before the officer checked on him. A few minutes later, the man was down on the floor, and when an officer checked on him, he said he'd taken an ounce of meth. The man was coherent and showed no signs of intoxication, police told the IIU, but when he was down on the floor again less than 10 minutes later, an ambulance was called, and Brandon and Fire and Emergency Services responded. Video footage shows 16 minutes between the first time the man was checked and the ambulance was called, the IIU report says. Medical staff arrived about seven minutes later. First responders who attended the scene said the man was convulsing when they arrived. His condition quickly deteriorated. He was taken to the Brandon Regional Health Centre, where he was declared dead. Three police officers, five professional witnesses and two civilian witnesses (who were monitoring cell video feeds) provided statements to investigators. The IIU civilian director did not authorize charges and closed the case.
Winnipeg Free Press
02-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Recruits prepare for policing career after graduating from Brandon college
After five years of working toward his goal of becoming a police officer — including time as an auxiliary constable with the Sainte-Anne Police Service — Fabian Toews is one step closer to realizing his dream. The 24-year-old from Niverville recently completed the public safety certificate program at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, which had been recommended by a Sainte-Anne officer who had completed it. Next week, Toews begins the second phase of his training with the Brandon Police Service, where he has been hired as a recruit constable. 'It has been incredibly rewarding,' Toews said about the program. 'It genuinely felt like being part of a police academy, particularly after being hired to join Brandon Police Service while continuing to study.' Assiniboine's program has trained law enforcement-ready graduates for nearly 20 years. On Friday, another 15 students graduated during a ceremony in Brandon. Of this year's cohort, two —including Toews — have been hired by Brandon police. One is in the final stages of the competition process, and three others are expected to become cadets. Bailey Culbertson, 20, who is originally from Melita in the southwest corner of Manitoba, is in the final stages of the hiring process for the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service in northwestern Ontario. 'I've always had an interest in law enforcement from a very young age,' she said. 'I just searched for options of what would be a good entry course to gain some background, educational-wise, for law enforcement, and I came across this. It helped me out. I ended up getting a job.' Culbertson, who said she has an interest in the cultural background of Indigenous people, always knew she wanted to police in a remote community. 'I want to travel and gain that experience of isolated communities, of what they're experiencing, because in Canadian northern communities, there's not a lot of resources,' Culbertson said. The certificate program emphasizes non-biased policing, with a focus on inclusive and culturally sensitive policing. 'We went to the Riverbank Discovery Centre (in Brandon) for Truth and Reconciliation week,' Toews said. 'We made teepees, we cooked bannock, participated in a feast and played with the children. It was a great experience to get more into Indigenous cultures.' Since its inception in 2006, the program has had 21 classes with more than 300 grads. Ninety per cent still work in law enforcement or public safety roles. More than half of Brandon police officers are grads of the program, said former Winnipeg police chief Jack Ewatski, who is the academic chairperson for the public safety institute at the college. He said the program continually evolves to meet the demands of modern policing. 'All police agencies right now are really facing challenges in terms of recruiting and hiring people,' Ewatski said, noting police officers are viewed in a negative light by some members of society. 'Our base program gives people the foundational aspects to do the job. We're continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the police services to help get people out in the street, out in the field, quicker, than in the past.' The college also delivers recruit training for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service and prepares members of the Winnipeg Community Safety Team, including staff who work on Winnipeg Transit buses. 'These students represent the future of policing, and we're committed to supporting their growth as they work toward their personal and professional goals,' said Greg Hebert, deputy chief of Brandon police. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
