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Winnipeg Police Cause Harm

@wpgpoliceharm.bsky.social

WPCH is a community-centred police abolitionist group committed to defunding the WPS and reallocating resources to life-sustaining services. https://winnipegpolicecauseharm.org

1,092 Followers  |  272 Following  |  407 Posts  |  Joined: 03.07.2023  |  2.1856

Latest posts by wpgpoliceharm.bsky.social on Bluesky

Part of why we are where we are is that few people on any point of the political spectrum actually take racism seriously.

13.08.2025 19:44 β€” πŸ‘ 1600    πŸ” 447    πŸ’¬ 28    πŸ“Œ 0

A good reminder that Community Connections was killed by Scott Gillingham and Evan Duncan not for failing, but for succeeding at something they didn’t want β€” making Millennium Library more welcoming to, and a better service for, poor and marginalized Winnipeggers. They *want* to push people away.

12.08.2025 14:53 β€” πŸ‘ 36    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

More Security guards wouldn't have helped ANY of these situations. Any actual obvious preventative measures have been ignored, as has the Library union and community groups desperately calling for the Community Connections space in the lobby to be reopened (closed due to being... too successful?)

12.08.2025 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
In an email Monday, Gillingham said he would focus on
"continuing to work with (CUPE) to improve safety at all city facilities."
"Without knowing (the man's) circumstances, it wouldn't be right to speculate about what might have made a difference.... As we plan for future redesigns of the library, we'll look for ways to make it safer while still ensuring it works for the staff and customers who use it every day," he said.

In an email Monday, Gillingham said he would focus on "continuing to work with (CUPE) to improve safety at all city facilities." "Without knowing (the man's) circumstances, it wouldn't be right to speculate about what might have made a difference.... As we plan for future redesigns of the library, we'll look for ways to make it safer while still ensuring it works for the staff and customers who use it every day," he said.

Gillingham, for his part, remains unapologetic. Just incredible the way he can jump to policing as a solution after one death in the library, but we have to withhold judgement and blame with this one.

12.08.2025 01:59 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Winnipeg library workers’ union demands safety improvements following man's death The union representing Millennium Library workers says it’s considering taking legal action against the city to more quickly implement safety changes after a man died by suicide at the downtown librar...

TW: Self Harm

Read this article on Millennium Library. It’s important.

12.08.2025 01:27 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1

You want to prevent situations like what these commenters are claiming? Stop pretending that ever-more violence and punishment will change anything - and provide people the things they need to survive.

09.08.2025 19:33 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Policing and jailing only worsens safety for everyone. It further destroys people's access to housing, employment and social supports necessary to survive. It's a never-ending cycle of violence that exclusively benefits cops and their budgets/salaries.

09.08.2025 19:33 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Three comments on Instagram. 

The first: "He was seen licking meat & food in the store and was spitting in peoples faces. Snapped out on meth. Normally I’d side with you as WPS is corrupted & awful. But a good buddy witnessed the whole thing and said it took every one of those officers to subdue him because he refused to cooperate. Funny thing is he told me the public narrative would be exactly what you’re pushing, which is only part of it to show your side/agenda."

The second: "they are showing what is on video. Where's your buddies video?"

The third: "he is referring to me. if you want to see what he was doing I am pretty sure the superstore has all the footage , I didn't record what he was doing but I witnessed everything.. there's always two side to the story, he was openly banging things next to me and walking at people including me which I have to avoid him. On a normal day I would accuse the police as many would do but after seeing everything from both sides And how he resisted arrest and telling people to video and show the world, I see how the system gets abused and puts all the blame on the police."

Three comments on Instagram. The first: "He was seen licking meat & food in the store and was spitting in peoples faces. Snapped out on meth. Normally I’d side with you as WPS is corrupted & awful. But a good buddy witnessed the whole thing and said it took every one of those officers to subdue him because he refused to cooperate. Funny thing is he told me the public narrative would be exactly what you’re pushing, which is only part of it to show your side/agenda." The second: "they are showing what is on video. Where's your buddies video?" The third: "he is referring to me. if you want to see what he was doing I am pretty sure the superstore has all the footage , I didn't record what he was doing but I witnessed everything.. there's always two side to the story, he was openly banging things next to me and walking at people including me which I have to avoid him. On a normal day I would accuse the police as many would do but after seeing everything from both sides And how he resisted arrest and telling people to video and show the world, I see how the system gets abused and puts all the blame on the police."

Assuming this is true, how would it in any way justify the level of violence used during this arrest? How will inflicting more trauma on someone help prevent this from happening again? How will further criminalization promote healing and well-being? How else might this have been avoided or resolved?

09.08.2025 19:33 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

This cannot be reformed.

09.08.2025 15:56 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

If we had put money into social services that would support the less fortunate, food theft would reduce.

It’s only been proven to work nearly every place they try, but what do I know.

09.08.2025 14:57 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This is what the WPS does with a $350 million a year budget: viciously attack poor Indigenous people trying to survive. The number of cops who responded to this were alone worth more than $1 million a year in salary. That's money directly stolen from our communities.

Defund and abolish the WPS.

09.08.2025 14:52 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

This was all for what looked to be no more than $50 worth of allegedly stolen food.

You can see in the video that he was complying with cop orders and not resisting arrest. He also repeatedly requested that the arrest be videoed.

09.08.2025 14:51 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Superstore arrest - August 6, 2025
YouTube video by Winnipeg Police Cause Harm Superstore arrest - August 6, 2025

WARNING: Police violence

We've received footage of a violent arrest at the St. James Superstore on Wednesday evening. During the arrest, the man was subjected to a knee on his neck, had a spit hood and "Ripp Hobble" restraint applied to him, and at least 10 cops responded.

youtu.be/xwaecvX4Zqk

09.08.2025 14:50 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 4
Preview
Bike theft a problem of 'epidemic proportions,' Winnipeg councillor says | CBC News Some Winnipeg residents say there needs to be more places where they can safely stow their bikes, as a local councillor is calling for the city to explore ways to curb theft.

Incredibly rich coming from the councillor who's been shovelling millions of dollars more at the police every single year without any apparent concern about things like "evidence" or "research."

Imagine what that money could do for income supports + poverty alleviation.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

08.08.2025 15:45 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Manitoba justice minister won’t say whether police disciplinary reports should be public Manitoba’s justice minister supports implementing a uniform code of conduct for Winnipeg police but stopped short of committing to the public release of disciplinary reports involving officers.

Continued cowardice from Matt Wiebe and the Manitoba NDP www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...

08.08.2025 14:01 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
A pic of the story in the newspaper, headline reads New charges tarnish badge: police chief.

A pic of the story in the newspaper, headline reads New charges tarnish badge: police chief.

It's not a few bad apples, it's rotten to the core.

The police budget has an insatiable appetite and we need to recognize money spent directly on community programs and services has far higher ROI if we want to get out of this mess.

#wpgpoli #winnipeg #mbpoli

08.08.2025 12:35 β€” πŸ‘ 48    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

I can hear it now: β€œPlease be respectful and do not politicize this tragedy that might have been avoided if not for political decisions made by the mayor and city council.”

07.08.2025 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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And this guy was awarded a medal! If he's the best of the Winnipeg Police Service what are the rest of them getting up to?

07.08.2025 18:43 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Winnipeg - your tax dollars at work. We're paying our cops to sell drugs and take naked pictures of victims instead of opening libraries on sundays, paving roads, cleaning parks or having pools to visit on hot days.

07.08.2025 18:37 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Bostock, a 22-year veteran of the WPS, was awarded an exemplary service medal by the Governor General in June 2024.

Bostock, a 22-year veteran of the WPS, was awarded an exemplary service medal by the Governor General in June 2024.

Chaser

07.08.2025 18:47 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Shot

07.08.2025 18:46 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
Senior Winnipeg police officer accused of drug trafficking, taking intimate picture of dead person | CBC News A veteran Winnipeg police officer, who was charged with several offences late last year, is now facing more charges afterΒ a 16-month long investigation found heΒ trafficked illegal drugs,Β distributed a...

Policing is an inherently violent and reactionary institution that must be abolished

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

08.08.2025 01:55 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Winnipeg: support the tenants of 641-645 Westminster fighting a huge rent increase by Thorwin - Tues Aug 5th 10am @ 155 Carlton at their RTB hearing. And tell your MLA to close the loopholes and stop huge rent hikes!

31.07.2025 15:31 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Canadian Police-Involved Deaths in July 2025 At least 11 people were killed by police in Canada in July 2025. This means that at least 59 people have been killed by cops so far this year. At least six people were killed in police deployments in ...

"At least 11 people were killed by police in Canada in July 2025. ... These deaths include people who were directly killed by police, as in police shootings, and people who died during police deployments or in police custody."

mediacoop.ca/node/119301 #cdnpoli

02.08.2025 17:07 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

β€œIn terms of harshness and the risk of harm to which they subject prisoners, (Manitoba facilities) rivalled anything I have observed in some of the worst solitary confinement units in the United States,” Haney wrote."

01.08.2025 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

When municipal and provincial government give tens of millions of more dollars to police forces, at the direct expense of alternative responses that could meaningfully de-escalate and support people in crisis, this is the result.

11.07.2025 19:34 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Cops have no expertise or skills in dealing with mental health crises. Instead their presence often greatly escalates situations. People in need of compassion and care are instead subjected to threats of violence, which can lead to further harm. This is what governments continue to fund and support.

11.07.2025 19:32 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Police watchdog investigating after man critically injured during arrest Manitoba's police watchdog is investigating after a man fell and was critically injured following an armed and barricaded incident in St. Boniface on Thursday night. City police arrived at an...

The WPS responded to a man threatening self-harm. He eventually left the apartment and was arrested "for safety." He "broke free from the officers and fell down the stairs" is now in critical condition with a possible traumatic brain injury.

www.winnipegfreepress.com/this-just-in...

11.07.2025 19:29 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2

While quintupling military spending

07.07.2025 17:52 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Stop Carney’s Surveillance Plan: Stop Bill C–2! Bill C-2 threatens our privacy, erodes our freedoms, and grants the government unchecked surveillance powers. Tell Mark Carney: surrendering to U.S. data demands isn’t leadership β€” it’s a betrayal of ...

While many of the rights and freedoms we value are under threat right now in Canada, we encourage everyone to use your voice! Join over 300 civil society groups, academics, and lawyers demanding full withdrawal of #BillC2.

action.openmedia.org/page/173242/...

04.07.2025 21:20 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

@wpgpoliceharm is following 20 prominent accounts