Manitoba is investing over $310,000 in a new tool that will allow nine police agencies to improve how they respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis, with the goal of de-escalating potentially dangerous situations, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced today. “We value the work our police agencies do every day to keep us safe and we believe strongly that our front-line officers should be on the street fighting crime.  This tool will help them determine risk and the most appropriate next steps so they can focus on protecting our communities from serious crimes,” said Cullen.  “In some cases, this might mean ensuring someone who is going through a mental health crisis is connected with a community service agency instead of taking them into custody or an emergency room.  In other situations, the assessment will help officers recognize when someone is a risk to themselves or others so a more immediate intervention can be made.” With this funding, the Winnipeg Police Service, Brandon Police Service, Manitoba First Nations Police Service, Ste. Anne Police Department, Winkler Police Service, Altona Police Service, Morden Police Service,  Rivers Police Department and RCMP detachments in Steinbach, Thompson and Portage la Prairie will install an evidence-based risk assessment tool called HealthIM in patrol cars and on other mobile devices.  When police respond to a call and find a person in a mental health crisis, the tool will help them determine the most appropriate response based on their observations and an assessment of the potential risks.   “This project is about having tools for the front lines that improve communication, enhance our connected services and ultimately improve outcomes for citizens,” said Deputy Chief Gord Perrier, Winnipeg Police Service.  “Managing a crisis is difficult and each situation has different needs.  Ensuring appropriate connection, intervention and or care that fits each individual is our goal.” In lower-risk situations, the HealthIM assessment might result in the officer working with the person to co-ordinate a referral to a local mental health agency, which would receive a copy of the officer’s assessment and then assign a worker to followup.  In higher risk situations, the tool would help the officer determine an approach to take the person into custody, reducing the likelihood they harm themselves or others.  Officers will also be able to see if the person has had a mental health crisis involving a police response before.   HealthIM receivers will also be installed in local emergency rooms, nursing stations and community mental health agencies to support secure information sharing.  This will also help reduce the amount of time police officers spend with people in emergency departments as they are triaged. All participating police agencies expect to have the HealthIM tool in place this year. HealthIM is an Ontario-based company and its software and other tools have been used to help municipal police agencies respond more effectively in these types of situations since 2013.   The minister noted more than $1.4 million will be distributed this year through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.  Since its inception, approximately $19 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:  Brandon Police Service Media Release Brandon Police Service is requesting the assistance of the public at large in locating Darshane Wacanta 21 year old Brandon woman reported missing from Brandon on Monday September 24th 2018. Wacanta was last seen at 4:35pm in the 000 block of 7th Street. Wacanta is described as an Indigenous female, 165cm, 86kg, brown hair, brown eyes and medium build and complexion. She was last seen wearing a pink jacket and black pants. Wacanta whereabouts is unknown. Please contact Brandon Police Service if you have any information regarding the whereabouts of this missing woman. Brandon Police Service (204)-729-2345.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On Saturday evening, witnesses reported a possible impaired driver in the 900 block of Victoria Ave.  The suspect vehicle was driving erratically and almost caused an accident.  The vehicle was stopped by police in the 700 block of 10th St and the male driver displayed signs of impairment. He was arrested and transported to the police service where he provided breath samples that exceeded the legal limit.  A 32 year old man from Brandon was charged and released to appear in court in October.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Police are seeking information on the whereabouts of Amanda REMEZOFF.  Amanda is approximately 5’10 with blonde hair and blue eyes.  She was last seen in Brandon on September 14, 2018.  A member of REMEZOFF’S family contacted Brandon Police Service, as they are concerned for her safety as it is uncharacteristic for her to be out of contact with family members for this extended length of time. Should anyone know the whereabouts of REMEZOFF please contact BPS in order that we can follow-up with her to ensure that she is safe and let her family know that she is all right.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release At 6 pm Friday, Brandon Police Service members attended a retail store on 1st Street North after receiving a tip that there was a female present wanted for 2nd Degree Murder in relation to an RCMP warrant stemming from an incident in the rural area.  The 20-year-old female from Brandon was located and arrested without incident.  She was turned over to members of the RCMP Major Crime Unit and will appear in court in the near future.