Winnipeg names new police chief

The Winnipeg Police Board is going with an internal candidate for the next chief of police. Jeff Keele has the details.

Winnipeg finally has a new top cop, Deputy Chief Gene Bowers.

After months of delay, the police board announced Bowers will assume the role of police chief on March 10.

“This position carries great responsibility, and I’m committed to serving all citizens of Winnipeg,” said Bowers.

Bowers has been with the service since 1989, serving on the Manitoba Human Trafficking Team Committee, and he was assigned to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Task Force.

“I think I have the experience, the background, the empathy to do this job.”

Bowers replaces Danny Smyth, who retired last September. Art Stannard has filled in as interim chief.

Bowers takes over the helm as Winnipeg struggles with retail theft and violent crime. The new chief is vowing to make the city safer.

“Definitely we got to get back, get our members back into the community and accessible,” said Bowers. “That’s just one of the things.”

Both Mayor Scott Gillingham and police board chair Markus Chambers expressed confidence in Bowers, an internal selection.

“When we looked at his breadth of experience, we felt it was the right decision that we made,” said Chambers.

“Who is the individual who has this vision, for this hour, for this community?” said Gillingham. “Gene Bowers is that individual, and I know he’ll do a great job as chief of police.”

The announcement on a new chief was delayed from mid-December after the board received unspecified new information.

Chambers said after doing more research, they found that information was without merit.

“I don’t want to dwell on that,” said Chambers. “You know the fact is that we have a candidate here that is an excellent candidate.”

On the delay, Bowers said he simply had to respect the process.

“Was it easy? No,” said Bowers. “I respected the process, and today the results of the process did what it was supposed to do.”

Cory Wiles, the president of the Winnipeg Police Association, said they are pleased a decision has been made.

“The WPA looks forward to working constructively with Chief Bowers.”

Editor’s note: In a previous story, Coun. Markus Chambers said the new information was “inconclusive.” He has since clarified his remarks, to say that it was ”without merit."