MFNPS expects to be operational in Brandon Oct. 1
Manitoba First Nations Police Service is on track to relocate to Brandon this October as construction continues on its new headquarters, a spokesman for the service told the Sun on Thursday.
The police service plans to be operational out of its new facility north of Brandon by Oct. 1, Insp. Darryl Hunter said in a phone interview. Furniture, computer systems and other equipment will be moved from Portage la Prairie as the service relocates to the Waywayseecappo Convention Centre off Highway 10 near the Brandon Municipal Airport.
“It sounds like, from the contractors and leadership in Waywayseecappo, we’re still looking at that date,” said Hunter. “I toured there not too long ago, and it looked like the progress was going pretty well.”
A rendering by Samson Engineering of Waywayseecappo’s new conference centre, which is under construction. The facility will also be the new headquarters for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service. (File)
The relocation comes as the police service looks for more space to house its growing team. The MFNPS is preparing to take on two new communities in the coming months — Dakota Plains First Nation in June and Fisher River Cree Nation in November. There are also talks about adding more communities as well.
With new coverage areas, the team is planning for growth. Hunter said the MFNPS filled six new civilian support staff positions in the last year and a half, and with new communities will look to add more in the future.
The MFNPS currently serves 10 First Nation communities in Manitoba, including Birdtail Sioux, Canupawakpa, Long Plain, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Roseau River, Sandy Bay, Swan Lake, Waywayseecappo, Brokenhead and the Gambler First Nation.
The service currently operates out of the top floor of a former Indian Residential School building in Portage la Prairie, with about 22 people on site.
“It’ll be great,” Hunter said of the new location. “I’m kind of working out of a mini hallway. Space is the biggest issue for us right now.”
The new MFNPS headquarters will join part of the 25,000 square-foot convention centre that is under construction. It will include three six-hour holding cells, an armoury and a large evidence room. It will also include a large gym on the second floor, a training centre, several boardrooms and parking for 64 personnel.
The space will allow the police service to host some inhouse professional development, Hunter said. Technology will also be an upgrade as internet connection options will be better at the Brandon site than the current one, where the service has had issues with its connection, he said.
A focus of growth as been civilian positions, Hunter said. The service has worked to stabilize support staff so that uniformed officers can get out in the communities for more of their time.
When asked about the service’s search for a new police chief to succeed Chief Doug Palson, who died in a house fire at the beginning of the year, Hunter said he did not have any new information. The job posting is still open until May 9, he said.
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com
