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Winnipeg police units that were displaced by extensive flooding at the service’s headquarters over the weekend have returned to work in the building, the police service says.
Water started to drip in the tower portion of the downtown office complex at 266 Graham Ave. around 6 p.m. Saturday, police previously said. Significant water pressure built up in the pipes, forcing water into the stairwells of the tower within minutes, flooding parts of the headquarters.
Police allege two people opened several emergency water supply valves in the upper stairwells of the tower building before the flooding. A 51-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman are now charged with six counts of mischief over $5,000 in connection with the flooding.
In a Wednesday update, police said there was flood damage from the tower’s fourth floor down to the basement, affecting the main floor and basement floors of the headquarters.
Repairs began immediately, the building’s electrical systems were deemed safe, and lighting was restored to the flooded areas, according to police.
Standing water has been removed from all of the flooded areas, the police service said. Air quality and humidity level testing across the flooded areas were also found to be in a normal range.
All impacted police units have since returned to the headquarters and continue to work at normal capacities, police said.
No safety incidents have been reported, and police say they are working with the city on preventative measures in the tower building.
The extent of the damage to the headquarters is still being assessed and will take time to be fully investigated, police say.
Uniform operations were not compromised by the flooding, and in-person reporting at the 245 Smith St. downtown headquarters has returned to normal operating hours, police say.