Winnipeg Copwatch

The Law Enforcement Review Agency (LERA) has responded to Winnipeg Copwatch’s complaint about illegal camera seizures and arrests of camera-people by recommending the Winnipeg Police Service change its policy. In a letter to Winnipeg Copwatch, LERA Commissioner George Wright says: [T]wo issues have been identified that may have caused or contributed to an alleged disciplinary default. They are: The detention of citizens using recording devices. Seizure of cameras and cell telephone recording devices. He goes on to say: I am writing to Keith McCaskill, Chief of the WPS and Glen Laubenstein, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) City of Winnipeg recommending that appropriate changes be implemented to ensure that police officers are aware of their legal authorities relative to these two issues. Winnipeg [...]

After a spate of police confiscations of cameras belonging to journalists and citizens over the past five years, and an ignored attempt to resolve the issue with Winnipeg Police Service Chief Keith McCaskill, Winnipeg Copwatch is today launching a campaign to help protect everyone who takes pictures or films in public, with three initiatives: In [...]

Family, friends, and supporters have raised the profile of Wilfred Asham’s death in custody of the Winnipeg Police Service in 2007 to the level that an inquest has been called.  The inquest will only examine the circumstances that led to his death, and not result in charges or punitive action being taken against anyone found [...]

Two years ago today, on September 2nd, 2007, Wilfred Asham died inside Winnipeg’s Public Safety Building under mysterious circumstances. His family is inviting community members out tonight to a vigil they’re holding on the second anniversary of his death. Asham’s family have been looking for answers after the police failed to answer a number of [...]

The M.s. Citizenship Feminist Collective is encouraging people to sign a petition to return the definition of sexual assault on the police’s CrimeStat service to one that includes attacks where the perpetrator is known to the victim. “As of January 1 2008, Winnipeg Police Services’ CrimeStat service changed the definition of sexual assault to ‘an [...]

Winnipeg Copwatch is discouraged to hear of another case of Winnipeg police illegally seizing video equipment.  Local media have reported the seizure on Wednesday of a video camera belonging to local filmmaker John Paskievich, known locally for his book of photography, The North End.  To our knowledge, the police have yet to comment publicly on [...]

Roanna Hepburn is a resident of Winnipeg, community activist, grandmother and great grandmother currently campaigning the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for a full and independent investigation into an act of violence committed against her granddaughter by members of the Winnipeg Police Service. Listen to a radio interview with Roanna Hepburn on police brutality in Winnipeg. [...]