‘Just something we have to do’: Steinbach hires private company to assist RCMP in crime prevention

A pilot project sees a security company providing a second set of eyes in Steinbach to help prevent crime. CTV’s Danton Unger reports.

STEINBACH - A Manitoba city is making a drastic move in an attempt to reduce crime.

The City of Steinbach, located southeast of Winnipeg, has hired a private security company to help curb a recent uptick in crime.

“Right now, we’re extra boots on the ground,” said Brian Brunelle, president of Steinbach Security Services.

Brunelle, a former police officer, has two units out nightly to act as extra eyes and ears for the RCMP.

“I think this is a good process for cities, municipalities, especially with shortages in policing,” Brunelle said.

The city launched the five-month pilot project to see if it can help reduce crime, which has started to tick up in recent months.

“When I first moved here as a kid, nobody locked their doors,” said Wendy Toews, who has lived in Steinbach for over 50 years.

Toews said that has changed and more property crime has been reported.

Mayor Earl Funk has noticed the increase as well.

“There’s some huge gaps as far as the construction sites, park sites, and just certain areas of our community that seem to get hit harder with vandalism and theft,” he said.

Steinbach has a contract with RCMP to provide policing services. Manitoba RCMP said staffing in the Steinbach detachment fluctuates at around 17 officers, and empty shifts are filled by officers from other detachments working overtime.

“Yes, we have shortages, but for the most part, we do fill those shifts,” said Sgt. Paul Manaigre with Manitoba RCMP. “A lot of members are eager to jump on and help out.”

Funk said the security company is a temporary solution, but the city council will examine the project and see if it will become permanent this fall.

“We have to get more RCMP,” he said. “We need more bodies, more members on the roads, and that’s just something we have to do.”