The Brandon Police Service is hosting a series of public meetings in Brandon, Manitoba, during late January and February 2026 to help residents connect with local officers and discuss neighbourhood safety. These events give people a chance to talk directly with the police about their priorities and learn about programs intended to improve safety in the downtown area.
During the sessions, officers will share details about the new Crisis Response Unit (CRU). On Jan. 16, 2026, the Manitoba government announced $290,000 in ongoing annual funding to Prairie Mountain Health to support the CRU. The unit pairs Brandon police officers with mental-health clinicians; its first operational shift began Oct. 20, 2025, and the team had been deployed to 116 calls as of January 2026.
Residents can visit the police headquarters at 1020 Victoria Ave or meet officers at various community hubs and parks to ask questions. People can also request a neighbourhood safety audit for their specific block, where officers and staff will provide advice and tips to help neighbours reduce property crime. These engagement efforts follow a long consultation process last summer that involved downtown businesses, residents and social-service providers to shape a public safety strategy.
The police service is also using these meetings as recruitment opportunities for its community cadet program. According to Brandon Police recruitment materials, cadet pay is projected to be $29.62 per hour in 2026. Chief Tyler Bates said the goal of the sessions is to listen to the public and ensure the police are responding to the community’s needs in the right way.
