Winnipeg cops are making house calls, closing the door on gangs, drugs

The Winnipeg Police Service is knocking on doors to rid the city of violent crime.

Officers and cadets will be handing out 1,000 brochures and talking to people they come across in the West End on Wednesday as part of the Make the Right Call initiative.

WPS Chief Danny Smith said police wanted to eradicate the proliferation of street gangs, which he said would help alleviate the city's drug crisis.

“Our hope is that (officers and cadets) can help guide people with drug problems into treatment, or help guide gang members who are tired of life into some sort of exit strategy.”

Smith explained that the door-to-door approach has been used in high-crime areas in the past. A few years ago, the officers visited, broke and entered the neighborhoods of the city that had been affected by several arson incidents.

“This is a community crisis that requires community action,” he said.

Rhonda Hood, who lives in the West End, said she was glad the police had launched the program. Her son moved to Steinbach, Man., to avoid using Metabolism in the area, and Goode said she had a bad experience, too.

“Robberies, beatings, grabbing my wallet, things like that. It's just that people don't know they're coming or going,” he said Wednesday.

“They're talking to themselves, banging on the windows… It's getting pretty crazy in here.”

Community partners

Residents who are aware of criminal activity are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous.

“We cannot escape this problem,” said Insp. Max Waddell of the Winnipeg Police Organized Crime Unit. “One of the most important pillars in solving the meth crisis is that we have to intervene.”

Several community partners, including the Gang Action Interagency Network, support the project.

According to Robin Dryden, about 1,500 gang members in the city are under the age of 30.

“Enforcement alone will not solve the problem.”

The organization recently launched a mentoring program for teenagers who are in or at risk of joining a street gang, he said.

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