WINNIPEG — Winnipeg Police Service Chief Devon Clunis says the decision to provide a police escort to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night was justified.
The team was in town for an exhibition game against the Winnipeg Jets but arrived late due to a mechanical issue with their plane.
The Senators notified the Winnipeg Jets, who then contacted the Winnipeg Police on the Sens behalf. WPS then provided the team with an escort to the MTS Centre.
“I support our members for making that decision, I would have made the same decision myself,” Chief Clunis said.
Clunis was grilled about the escort during a police board meeting Friday but told Winnipeg city councillors it had no operational impact on resources in the rest of the city and that WPS is billing the Ottawa Senators for the service.
“I think we did something great for the city and our citizens and if we hadn’t there would have been this very negative spotlight on the city and then the same people who are now criticizing us for making the decision would be criticizing us for not making the decision,” Clunis said.
But Minarski Ward councillor Ross Eadie wants the police board to review its police escort policy.
“I have been to rock concerts and they’re late, are we going to be providing escorts because a plane is late, because Taylor Swift couldn’t make it to the Winnipeg stadium for her big concert,” Eadie said.
Police confirmed to Global News Friday that members also provided a police escort to Investors Group Field to ACDC on September 17th. In that case WPS said they also charged for their services.
WATCH: Winnipeg police constable emphasizes public safety in choice of escort for Ottawa Senators
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