By Canadian Press

Police chief shares frustration about addictions resources in letter to officers

Jul 17, 2019 | 12:34 PM

WINNIPEG — The chief of police in Winnipeg says he sent an internal memo to officers to share his frustration about a lack of addictions resources as the city deals with what he calls an epidemic of violence.

Danny Smyth sent the letter on Tuesday thanking officers for their hard work and sharing concerns about crime fuelled by the drug meth and the resulting excessive amount of service calls.

There have been 25 homicides in Winnipeg this year, three more than there were in all of 2018.

The chief says in a statement that he wanted to express his dissatisfaction about what the government is doing about the lack of addictions resources.

Manitoba Justice Minister Cliff Cullen says police chiefs and RCMP from across the province are to meet this week to discuss solutions.

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The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba has said meth use has increased by more than 100 per cent in adults and nearly 50 per cent in youth since 2014.

The Canadian Press