Winnipeg's newly sworn in police chief vows to 'heal past wounds' with Indigenous community
'My ultimate hope is that reconciliation will be woven into the fabric of our service'
Gene Bowers was sworn in Monday as the 19th chief of police in Winnipeg's history, vowing to put reconciliation, community relations and the city's mental health crises at the forefront.
Bowers, who has been with the police service for 36 years, was announced earlier this month as the next person to quarterback the service. On Monday, at the home of the CFL's Blue Bombers, it became official.
"I accept the responsibility this position carries and commit to serving all citizens of Winnipeg in a fair and respectful manner," Bowers said moments after signing the oath of allegiance and office.
"Today's policing requires more than simply enforcing the law. It is about serving with compassion, understanding and respect. We will, and should be, held accountable when we are wrong," he said.
"When we make mistakes, we will be transparent. We'll learn from them and do better."
Monday's ceremony was attended by several municipal and provincial politicians, as well as representatives from Indigenous organizations, including Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said Bowers has council's full support and trust to guide the police service through the coming years.
"Being chief of police is one of the most critical leadership roles in our city. It carries with it immense responsibility, because if people don't feel safe, then everything else in the city is affected — businesses, families, communities, visitors," Gillingham said.
Markus Chambers, chair of the police board, echoed those remarks, saying in order for a city police service to be trusted, it must act with integrity, accountability and transparency.
"The chief of police sets the tone for that dynamic," he said.
Bowers coughed and paused several times to chase back his emotional reaction as he spoke about his father dying by suicide as a result of mental health issues. Bowers was nine at the time.
The loss was "extremely difficult" but taught Bowers to persevere while giving him the gifts of empathy, understanding and compassion for those who have also lost loved ones to tragic events, he said.
He believed becoming a police officer would give him the opportunity to help those suffering from trauma, and on Monday, he promised to do that as chief.
"I will work towards community-based solutions to address issues related to mental health crises, to ensure that professionally trained mental health practitioners are the ones responding to people who are struggling with mental health, so that people like my father will get the help they need," he said.
Being raised by a single mother and facing financial struggles, Bowers said as a young boy, he was often at the edge of making poor decisions. But he found structure in sport at community centres.
"I am living proof that investment in young people during adolescence contributes to holistic development and the likely pursuit of a positive future," he said.
He'll encourage Winnipeg Police Service members to find opportunities to positively impact youth through coaching and mentoring.
He vowed to promoted restorative justice initiatives, "particularly in relation to the youth in our city," by providing wraparound supports to keep them out of the justice system.
Bowers also pledged to continue the ongoing retail theft initiative and to advocate for and support the community groups that work to address food insecurity, poverty and addictions.
During the early years of his career, which dates back to 1989, Bowers walked the beat in the Spence neighbourhood "and learned the true value of community policing," he said.
"True healing and positive change comes from within the community," and each community has its unique challenges, Bowers said.
"There is a need for our members and leaders to become more accessible and to build stronger relationships."
That means reinvesting in community engagement and intelligence-led policing, being more present in the communities and responding to their needs, Bowers said. He promised more front-line policing and improved response times.
"Winnipeggers need to see change. Violent crime cannot be tolerated," he said.
"As chief, I refuse to accept the level of violence the city is experiencing and will ensure a suppression strategy … to meet this challenge head-on. The Winnipeg police will not be spectators or wait for more citizens to be victimized."
Reconciliation 'top of mind'
Among other things, Bowers promised to improve communication and workplace culture with WPS members and establish a "diversity action circle" to address inclusion and ensure the police service is representative of the city's diversity.
Bowers said he'll make the WPS a leader in reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples "to heal past wounds."
"And my ultimate hope is that reconciliation will be woven into the fabric of our service."
He plans to consult Indigenous communities and organizations in order to create an Indigenous action circle "to facilitate dialogue, education and shared responsibility to ensure all Indigenous people are heard, feel valued and, most importantly, are safe."
In a media scrum with reporters following the swearing-in ceremony, Bowers was asked again about his priorities, and said "definitely, reconciliation is top of mind."
Bowers wouldn't talk about any role he played in the initial decision by police to not search Prairie Green landfill for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, victims of a serial killer.
Winnipeg police needs to apologize: Advocates
The police and then-governing Progressive Conservatives said no to searching the landfill in 2022 and maintained that position. Bowers was a deputy chief at the time.
The decision led to widespread anger among the families of the victims, First Nations leaders and community members.
The NDP came to power in October 2023 and launched the search just over a year later. Less than three months into the search, two sets of remains were recovered. Harris's remains were publicly identified on March 7. On Monday, RCMP confirmed the second set belonged to Myran.
Indigenous advocate Sheila North said Bowers needs to personally connect with the families directly impacted by the decision not to search the landfill, and apologize on behalf of Winnipeg police.
"There has to be an acknowledgement of what has happened and a promise and a commitment to do better," North said.
"We need to see some effort from the police chief and the police services to really start to change the narrative of how we view Indigenous people in this city, in this province."
WATCH | How the fight to search for murder victims' remains in a landfill unfolded:
Sandra Delaronde with Giganawenimaanaanig, Manitoba's MMIWG2S+ implementation committee, said any apology should be followed by action.
Delaronde presented Bowers the final report of the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls at the swearing-in ceremony.
She said the new chief is setting a "critical path forward," but that she would like to see pledges like the establishment of the action circle written into legislation to ensure they're "continuous."
"I think the police chief needs to affirm that when one of our relatives go missing, they will search," she said.
On March 5, Interim PC Leader Wayne Ewasko issued a public apology for his party's decision, saying, "We lost our way in regards to empathy."
Bowers said he's in the process of meeting with the families of Harris and Myran.
"I want to, out of respect, talk to the families first before I make any public comments. I will be addressing it publicly but I just need [that] opportunity."
Asked if his public statement will be an apology, Bowers again said he won't comment.
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With files from Josh Crabb