Professional Standards
The Winnipeg Police Service is committed to ensuring its members serve their community in a safe, professional, and respectful manner.
The Professional Standards Unit is attached to the Winnipeg Police Service Executive and reports directly to the Chief of Police. The mandate of the Professional Standards Unit is to maintain the integrity of the Winnipeg Police Service. It is staffed with one Inspector, one Staff Sergeant, one Sergeants, six Detective Sergeants, and two civilian Administrative Assistants.
The Professional Standards Unit is responsible for managing complaints against members of the Winnipeg Police Service; this includes complaints about employee conduct, Service policies, or service delivery. The Professional Standards Unit investigates these complaints, or when appropriate assigns them to the member’s Division or Unit for follow-up.
The Professional Standards Unit also provides training to members to ensure they understand the accountability and responsibility they have to their community.
The confidence of the public in the integrity of the Winnipeg Police Service must be maintained by the knowledge that the Professional Standards Unit will conduct a full investigation of allegations in a fair, impartial, and thorough manner.
Compliments & Complaints
The Winnipeg Police Service welcomes your feedback – both positive and negative – concerning the actions of our members. We are committed to serving the community and ensuring that you have complete confidence in the systems that govern our members.
Compliments
To compliment or recognize a member of the Winnipeg Police Service, you have several options, including:
- Contact the member’s supervisor directly
- Contact the Professional Standards Unit at 204-986-7242
- Write a letter to the Chief of Police
- Complete the online form
If you don't know the police officer or staff member’s name or badge number, provide the date, time and circumstances leading to your compliment. We will try to identify the officer or staff member involved to properly recognize them for their service.
The information you provide is forwarded to the member’s Division/Unit Commander and the involved member.
Complaints
Complaints against a Winnipeg Police Service member or policy can be filed with different organizations, depending on the type of behaviour that prompted the complaint.
Organization | Criminal Behaviour | Non-Criminal Behaviour | Administrative/ Policy Matters |
---|---|---|---|
Winnipeg Police Service | X | X | X |
Law Enforcement Review Agency | X | X | |
Manitoba Ombudsman | X |
When non-criminal behaviour is involved, you can choose whether to file your complaint with the Winnipeg Police Service or with the Law Enforcement Review Agency. The Winnipeg Police Service investigates criminal matters.
Complaints to the Winnipeg Police Service
To file a complaint with the Winnipeg Police Service, you may:
- Come to any Winnipeg Police Service Centre.
- Write to the Chief of Police, P.O. Box 1680, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C2Z7.
- Contact the Professional Standards Unit at 204-986-7242.
- Use this online form.
Every complaint is examined thoroughly to determine whether further investigation is warranted. If an investigation reveals that a member has breached any rules governing conduct, a disciplinary process will follow. Penalties range from an admonition up to and including dismissal from the Service.
Complaints to the Law Enforcement Review Agency
You can file a complaint with the Law Enforcement Review Agency at 420-155 Carlton St. (telephone: 204-945-8667). For more information, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/justice/lera.
LERA is staffed by a Commissioner, Registrar, professional investigators and an administrative assistant. Any other complaints, including allegations of criminal behaviour, are investigated by the Winnipeg Police Service.
A member who is the subject of a LERA complaint cannot be subject to any internal police discipline for conduct that constitutes the subject matter of the LERA complaint.
Complaints to the Manitoba Ombudsman’s Office
The Ombudsman's Office investigates complaints from anyone who feels they have been treated unfairly by the provincial government or a municipal government, including the City of Winnipeg. The complaint must relate to a matter of administration. For more information, visit: www.ombudsman.mb.ca
The Ombudsman also has powers of investigation concerning review compliance with the access to and protection of personal or personal health information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).