Featured Unit
communications
In June 1959, Winnipeg became the first city in North America to have a single call emergency number. This single number was activated in the US in 1968, almost 10 years after Winnipeg. When instituted in the US, they began the international standard of 911, and Winnipeg followed suit.
Canine Unit
The Winnipeg Police Canine Unit (K9 Unit) began in the early 1970s, and one of the first police dogs, Axel, was the first and remains the only canine awarded the Canadian Bankers Medal, for capturing a bank robber.
Dive Unit
The Dive unit originated in Fort Garry before amalgamation. One of the principles in the unit was Armin Stojke. In 2021, the Dive Unit celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Police Cadets
2020 marked the 10th anniversary of Auxillary Force Cadets and the 60th anniversary of the original Police Cadet! In both cases, cadets would take on administrative duties and less demanding duties of sworn members.
Emergency Response Unit
The Emergency Responspose Unit (ERU) began in mid 1970s and continues today as the Tactical Support Team (TST) and is used in a variety of high-risk situations.
Combat Shooting
A formal Winnipeg Police Service Revolver Club was formed in 1959 and continues to host shooting competitions today.
Community Policing
The Winnipeg Police Service has a long history of community involvement including crime prevention, school patrols, diversity relations, police in schools, and victim services to name a few.
Pipe Band
Since 1920 the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band has performed and stirred both national and international audiences with their music and striking full dress uniform.
The Winnipeg Police Pipe Band is proud to display the traditional Royal Stewart Tartan, which it was granted permission to wear by the Lord Master of the Rolls for the United Kingdom.
Winnipeg police ambulance
In the early 1900s and for many years later, the ambulance was operated by the Winnipeg Police Service. In fact, until 1949, the Winnipeg Police Ambulance was the primary emergency transport in Winnipeg.
Substations
For more than 100 years, Winnipeg Police Stations have evolved from stables and jail cells to parking for an armoured rescue vehicle and modern training facilities.
Winnipeg city Police athletic Association - Winnipeg Police Association
In 1920, the Winnipeg City Police Athletic Association formed and promoted athletics, amusements and activities for its members. In 1948 they received union certification as the bargaining agent for Winnipeg police officers. They became what is now the Winnipeg Police Association in 1972.
Public Safety Building
From 1966 – 2016, the Public Safety Building at the corner of William Avenue and Princess Street was home to numerous specialty unit, staff and sworn members.
Call Boxes and Radio
The first call boxes came from the Siemens Electric Group in Germany in 1913, and at the time, was the most advanced communication system of any police agency in North America.
It was used by officers to receive communications and to send signals of request for the wagon for transport, the fire department, or an ambulance.
Vehicle Services Unit
Early records show that prior to 1911 repairs to Police equipment such as wagons, motorcycles and automobiles were regularly outsourced to local businesses. The city acquired the lots directly beside the
Central Police Station, and in 1910 had plans drawn up for the construction of a 4-level addition on the west side which housed a large garage area on the main floor, a drill hall on the second floor, and the signals room on the third floor.