With a number of possible retirements looming within the Winkler Police Department's officer ranks in the next handful of years, steps are being taken to ensure the force stays strong.
Police Chief Ryan Hunt says the department has started to experience retirements of some longtime officers and they want to ensure they don't fall behind, noting the time it takes to hire and have new recruits go through training and graduate.
The department is now at twenty members after longtime officer Arnie Klassen retired this week (Dec. 14th), and the addition of two new constables earlier this year.
Brendon Ginter and Thomas Froese, both from Winkler and new to law enforcement, were added to the force.
"They actually started training earlier in the year," said Police Chief Ryan Hunt. "They spent four months training at the Winnipeg Police Academy, and then four months out here field training with a senior officer, and then back to Winnipeg for a little bit. And then their graduation was in late October."
With the possibility of more retirements in the next number of years, and the time it takes, Hunt says they hope to begin the process of hiring another two additional officers in 2023.