WINNIPEG – There is nothing but “respect” between City Hall and the Winnipeg Police Service.
That was the message Monday from Mayor Brian Bowman and police chief Devon Clunis in the wake of a bitter public exchange last week between city and police officials.
“I think its important if there seems to be some type of friction that you meet together and we discuss,” said Clunis. “Certainly our officials have the right to ask questions…we just want to ensure everything we do is done in a mutually respectful cooperative environment. And that’s what we are doing by being together today.”
Last Thursday the chair of the city’s finance committee, city councillor Marty Morantz, grilled Deputy Chief Art Stannard on rising police service costs.
“I don’t want to compromise service but it looks to me that there are a lot of officers hanging around now,” Morantz told senior police officers during Thursday’s finance meeting. Stannard later described the remarks as “disrepectful.”
Clunis met with Morantz and the mayor just ahead of the noon-hour press conference Monday.
The Mayor then came out to say there was nothing but full support for the “valuable work” of the WPS.
“Those elected officials charged with the difficult task of asking the difficult questions are going to ask those questions. Especially when we are in a very difficult budget process,” said Mayor Bowman. “But should be no confusion about the level of support to the Winnipeg Police.”
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