‘We policed the hell out of this area’: police tout results of North End sweep

Winnipeg police say a crackdown on crime in two inner-city neighbourhoods resulted in more than 600 arrests and underscored the need for additional resources to tackle drug trafficking and homelessness.

“The lawlessness and public disorder were out of control in both neighbourhoods,” said Insp. Elton Hall at a news conference at a park at Pritchard Avenue and Charles Street on Thursday.

As children played, Hall spoke about the five-month operation, called Project Revive, in William Whyte and Point Douglas.

Hall said while incidents of criminal activity dropped in the rest of the city, both neighbourhoods endured an “unprecedented increase” owing to drug trafficking and poverty-driven problems such as homeless encampments.

He said residents, business owners and community organizations were all victims of the increased danger in the neighbourhoods.

In response, police beefed up their presence, community groups increased their outreach and compassion was used to respond to the unhoused population.

For example, in August, in both William Whyte and Point Douglas, there was a 236 per cent increase in arrests: 221 arrests from 31 in 2025.

In September, there was a 202 per cent increase: 209 arrests compared to 36 in 2025.

“During Project Revive, officers were placed in the difficult position of balancing public safety, community concerns and the dignity and rights of vulnerable individuals,” Hall said.

“This while not having the resources or appropriate supports to achieve lasting solutions.”

Hall said while he understands there are budget constraints, he’d like 25 to 30 more officers added to the community service unit.

“We policed — with all due respect — we policed the hell out of this area and did what we could to get rid of the drug traffickers and the lawlessness, but it’s still here,” Hall said. “As a police agency, we deal with crime and we’re dealing with that, but it’s the social impacts, and the mental health issues that need to be dealt with by the government and other agencies.”

However, Hall said police can’t address the problem alone and he called for greater help from governments.

“The most effective response combines all three levels of government, which I don’t believe I’m seeing,” Hall said.

The operation, in which he said community support officers worked tirelessly with community members and agencies, ran from May 15 to Sept. 30.

Police arrested 423 people in connection to the project and 202 others on warrants while conducting enforcement.

Seeing the issue firsthand, Hall called for more front-line mental health, rehabilitation and emergency services in the communities.

“Police cannot be expected to solve a housing and social service crisis through enforcement alone,” the inspector said.

Currently, he said, no rehab beds are available for someone with a drug addiction.

“A lot of these organizations need more funding,” he said.

“Different levels of government, municipal, provincial, federal, have to come together,” he said. “We need a co-ordinated plan to deal with what seeing on the street right now.”

Darrell Warren, president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association, said the enforcement effort put criminal elements in the area “on notice.”

“I’m telling you today as a longtime resident, what you do will not be tolerated here in the North End or the Point Douglas area,” he said. “If you don’t find a new address somewhere else, I promise you, your next address will be Headingley Correctional or Stony Mountain Pen.”

Warren said residents are eager to work with police by reporting criminal behaviour.

Officers executed eight search warrants, which resulted in the seizure of four handguns, 10 long guns, a large amount of ammunition, two bulletproof vests, a Taser, eight edged weapons and 13 replica firearms.

Police also seized about a kilogram of cocaine, a kilogram of fentanyl and many pills.

Hall said while Project Revive has wrapped, enforcement in the neighbourhood continues.

morgan.modjeski@winnipegfreepress.com