Western Manitoba municipality residents worry about response times after local police force dissolved

Residents in western Manitoba are calling for increased provincial and RCMP support following the recent closure of a local police force that had served the area for over a century.

The Rivers Police Service, which had operated for 111 years in the town of Rivers and the surrounding municipality of Riverdale, was disbanded this year. The province decided the RCMP would now cover the area, home to about 2,000 people.

Riverdale Mayor Heather Lamb criticized the decision, stating the municipality was not consulted, leaving residents feeling less secure. "It is very disappointing, but... we need to stay focused on ensuring the best police service for our community," she said.

The police service faced staffing challenges earlier this year, with four officers, including the chief, departing. The municipality had arranged for temporary RCMP coverage during recruitment efforts. However, in June, Manitoba Justice announced that Blue Hills RCMP would permanently take over policing duties. At the time, the municipality was in the process of hiring a new officer.

"That was very disappointing... at our most vulnerable moment, trying to hire staff, we were shut down," Lamb said. One remaining officer is still assisting with transferring files to the RCMP.

Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe emphasized that the priority is community safety, saying, "We're happy to understand the unique concerns and situation, but my obligation is to ensure we have the right resources in the area." He noted that no final decisions have been made regarding future policing arrangements.

Wiebe added that the province is assessing costs and reviewing the overlap in policing coverage. Lamb said new requirements under the Police Service Act, including training and equipment, make restoring the local force financially unfeasible without provincial help. If reinstatement isn't possible, Lamb hopes more RCMP officers will be deployed.

The RCMP confirmed that the Blue Hills detachment, staffed by 15 officers, has no plans to expand.

Grant Jackson, Progressive Conservative MLA for Spruce Woods, raised concerns in the legislature, calling for compensation to help Riverdale manage the shutdown and for more RCMP positions. "They had a high standard of police presence," Jackson said. "Through no fault of their own, they lost their municipal force due to a unilateral decision from the minister."

Carberry Mayor Ray Muirhead expressed concerns about the RCMP’s capacity, noting they were already stretched thin before taking on Riverdale. Blue Hills RCMP covers areas around Brandon, Carberry, and Souris, and staffing shortages are impacting response times.

"RCMP officers are getting very stretched, which isn't their fault," Muirhead said. He warned that residents could face long wait times, saying, "If there's an accident, you could be waiting an hour for officers to arrive from Rivers."

Recent RCMP data shows a 13% increase in service calls across western Manitoba in December 2023 compared to the previous year, with property crime rising 37%. Earlier this year, Carberry and the Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford requested increased RCMP presence in rural areas through a letter to provincial and federal justice ministers.

Wiebe acknowledged the recruitment challenges in rural Manitoba and said the province is exploring additional models, such as community safety officer programs, to complement RCMP services.

Ingrid Blankenspoor, a resident of Rivers, voiced concerns about safety, saying she used to feel secure with local officers living nearby. "Now, the RCMP are not around the corner anymore... They cover such a large area that it’s hard to know how quickly they can respond," she said.

However, long-time Rivers resident Garth Ventnor welcomed the change, saying the old police service was not efficient. "As a taxpayer, I see this as a relief," he said. "If the police service comes back, I'd prefer a small, affordable setup—maybe with a resident officer."