Brandon Police Service receives funding for SkyRanger drone, night-vision goggles

BRANDON—The Manitoba government is providing more than $130,000 from Manitoba Justice’s Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to the Brandon Police Service to improve safety for their officers and the community, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced here today.

“These significant investments will enhance public safety in Brandon and the surrounding regions by equipping police with the tools they need to stay safe and do their jobs more effectively,” said Cullen.  “These tools will help to save lives and enhance officer safety, and the Manitoba government is pleased to provide this support to the Brandon Police Service.”

The investments announced today include:

• more than $86,000 for a new SkyRanger drone that will be used for traffic accident and crime scene investigations, search and rescue, mass disaster scenes, high-speed pursuits and tactical surveillance during high-risk incidents;
• more than $20,000 for three night-vision goggles to assist drug investigators with surveillance in low-light conditions;
• more than $18,000 for 12 gas masks to enable the Tactical Response Unit to safely clear areas during high-risk calls after a chemical munition deployment; and
• $8,000 for the Youth Cadet Program to purchase sporting equipment and uniforms.

“This funding allocation from the provincial government will ensure that our work towards a safer community and engagement with our youth can continue,” said Chief Wayne Balcaen, Brandon Police Service.  “Using funds taken from criminals to support police service equipment and programming sends a powerful message to the public that crime doesn’t pay.”

The minister noted Brandon is also receiving $8,000 for the Crime Stoppers program, which will be used for promotional materials and rewards.  Crime Stoppers is a program that lets community members share information with police agencies safely and anonymously to help solve crimes in the community.

The minister said more than $1.6 million has so far been dedicated this year through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to police agencies across Manitoba.  Since  its  inception, just under $21 million  in assets  have  been  successfully  forfeited  to  Manitoba  through  criminal  property  forfeitures.

For more information about criminal property forfeiture, visit www.gov.mb.ca/justice/safe/cpf/index.html.

Source: (Province of Manitoba News Release)