The City of Portage la Prairie has extended the operational hours of its Community Safety Officer (CSO) program, offering broader coverage and enhanced visibility throughout the city.
Colin Doyle, Portage city councillor and chair of the Public Safety Committee, says the new schedule represents a major step forward.
“We are going to have two shifts now. We're going to run consistently from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., still on the Monday to Friday set schedule,” Doyle notes. “We’ve hired some new officers as well, and it’s just great to see this program expand in Portage.”
Previously, CSOs operated only between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., limiting their reach during early mornings and later evenings. The current complement includes six full-time officers, one part-time officer, and CSO manager Kaitlyn.
Broader presence welcomed by businesses
Doyle says city council had always planned to expand the program but needed the right staffing and infrastructure to do it properly.
“This was always our plan to expand the program,” he adds. “Obviously, in the infancy of it, you start small and you learn from your mistakes as you progress. And now that we've kind of got that solid foundation, now it's time to budget more money and expand the number of officers.”
Upgrades have included both personnel and equipment. A second vehicle has been added to the fleet and fully outfitted for public safety needs.
“All the vehicles are equipped with lights and sirens. They are capable of transporting passengers as well,” Doyle says. “They have all the safety measures in place, much like a police vehicle does.”
E-bikes used by CSOs do not have sirens, but Doyle confirms officers are regularly seen on foot, bike, and in vehicles throughout the day.
Early signs show promise
The expanded schedule allows officers to cover more of the city during times when their presence can have greater impact. Doyle says the public has been calling for expanded hours and early feedback from local businesses has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’ve spoken to many local business owners and they’ve definitely expressed their gratitude for the officers to date, let alone the expanded hours,” Doyle says. “They’re just so happy with what the officers have achieved in such a short amount of time.”
While no formal statistics are yet available to measure the program’s results, Doyle says the broader coverage is expected to boost deterrence and support for the RCMP, with whom the CSOs work closely.
Public encouraged to participate
Doyle encourages residents to continue reporting suspicious activity and non-emergency issues directly to the CSO program.
“Just a reminder to everyone: in the event of an emergency, you must always call 911 and have the RCMP dispatched,” Doyle continues. “But for crimes such as vandalism, theft, public alcohol or drug use, property crime, suspicious activity—anything like that—the public can definitely call our CSO program.”
With a strengthened team, enhanced hours, and new equipment, Portage’s CSO program is well-positioned for continued growth and positive community impact.
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