Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/95748
DECEMBER 2012 • PAGE 3 Greetings It is my great honour to have been selected to serve as Winnipeg's Chief of Police. I promise you, the citizens I serve, nothing but my best effort every step along the way. I became a police officer out of Chief Devon Clunis Winnipeg Police Service Without great desire to make a difference in our community. My career has given me enormous opportunities to fulfill that desire and it is that same desire for making a difference that caused me to apply for the position of Chief of Police. I know that citizens are con- relationships, real caring relationships, we have little hope of making a meaningful, positive, impact in our city. cerned for their safety and that crime continues to be a primary concern. As Chief of Police, I am commit- ting to take the lead in addressing these concerns, but I know success will not be realized unless our entire community works together to ad- dress these matters. As a police service, we intend to ensure there are more officers on the front lines responding to calls for service. But greater enforcement is only part of the solution. Crime prevention through social development will become a founda- tional philosophy of how we police our city. We will work cooperatively with the community in addressing the social causes of crime. These include: • poverty • poor living conditions • alcohol and drug abuse • physical and sexual abuse • lack of parenting skills • education These aren't traditional police is- sues but we must become a catalyst for change. Police consistently deal with the consequences associated with these social challenges and we re- alize we cannot arrest these issues away. We must raise the social con- sciousness of our community, in un- derstanding that much of our crime is socially constructed and that only by addressing the social roots of crime, will we see a cost effective, sustainable answer to crime. Winnipeg is a diverse city both in terms of demographics and commu- nity dynamics. One model doesn't fit all neighbourhoods. We will be com- munity specific in addressing crime and social problems. Aboriginal and Newcomer com- munities face unique challenges that must be addressed with cultural relevancy. I will be meeting with Aboriginal and Newcomer leaders to gain an understanding of their needs and learn how we can work together, to ensure success within the Aboriginal and Newcomer communities relative to policing and social success. I want every citizen of Winnipeg to understand that a fundamental principle of policing is that the police are the public and the public are the police; and that it is incumbent upon every citizen to do their part in add- ing to the overall welfare of our city. Crime is not simply the police's problem. If we each do our part, we can eradicate the conditions conducive to the growth of crime in our city. I am asking every citizen to examine their role in helping the police re- duce crime and create a safer Win- nipeg. Yes, Winnipeg has an historic crime problem. But I believe it is one that can and will be overcome if we recognize the potential we have in working together. Anthropologist Margaret Mead has a quote which I believe applies to our present situation. She said; "never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has." I believe that one person can make a difference. But I also know what can happen when the power of one is multiplied by a group of indi- viduals committed to a cause. Without relationships, real caring relationships, we have little hope of making a meaningful, positive, im- pact in our city. Together, we can make a dif- ference and change the future of our city.