Winnipeg councillor calls for transit police unit as riders raise safety concerns

Winnipeg City Councillor Evan Duncan is calling for a transit unit to be established within the Winnipeg police department (WPS) after a passenger was assaulted last month.

The incident occurred in Duncan’s riding of Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood on Feb. 21 when a 66-year-old man was allegedly attacked by a suspect in a transit bus. The suspect also allegedly attacked a child with a baseball bat at a store in another incident.

Speaking at the WPS board meeting Friday, Duncan called for exploring the creation of a transit police unit.

“Where does it end? How much public safety do we need to put at risk before we say: ‘this is our priority.’?” Duncan said.

“I’d like to know if we are allocating all these dollars towards safety on transit,” Duncan added. “Are we allocating them in the best matter and does WPS need to have a budget line item for transit?”

Winnipeggers told CityNews that transit safety remains a concern.

One Winnipeger said, “What can you do? It’s becoming dangerous most of the time.”

Some riders said there should be more safety measures in place, especially on downtown and north end bus routes.

“They talk about safety and I don’t see any,” said transit user Jim Livingstone. “You see them occasionally downtown.”

After the transit system overhaul last summer, bus schedules changes forced some riders to search for alternative means of transportation due to safety concerns.

“I end up using three buses at night, so I end up using a taxi to get home safely,” said another Winnipegger.

Despite these concerns, WPS chief Gene Bowers said transit unit was not under consideration.

“There have to be some conversations regarding funding, and we’ll have to inquire further members to initiate something like that. Because currently we don’t have the members to be able to initiate transit police arm within WPS.”

In September 2025, police introduced a pilot project, with police aboard transit buses to address safety concerns, which ended in December 2025.

Bowers said police continued patrolling public transit, despite the pilot ending.

“We have made some arrests on the transit buses, particularly in the unicity area and it’s something we’ll continue to do,” Bowers said.  “With our rapid response team coming out that’s something definitely we are going to address.”

According to a report presented at the board meeting, WPS officers spent 1,132 hours in downtown transit corridors last year.

Colleen Mayer, chair of Winnipeg Police Board, said creation of a transit unit needs to involve multiple levels of government.

“(WPS) don’t make those decisions,” Mayer said. “If other levels of government want to provide funding or look at that more extensively the WPS would be willing to listen and be part of those conversations.”

Duncan said Winnipeggers taking the bus should feel safe.

“We want to make sure that when Winnipeggers are riding a bus that they are safe on that bus and that they are not being subject to criminal activity on that bus.”