The Winnipeg Police Service, like all municipal police agencies, has taken a balanced approach to delivering policing services to the citizens of our city. This balanced approach includes foot patrol officers in areas of greatest need, planned response officers to deal with less urgent matters, priority response officers to deal with the most serious calls for service as well as a host of investigative and support functions that deal with investigations of crime.

Operation Clean Sweep is part of this balanced approach. This policing action focuses on criminal behaviour that threatens the peace and security of the communities where those criminals and thugs operate. Yes, some of them may live in those communities but that does not mean the police service views or treats all those who live in those communities as enemies of public safety.

This is not a "war on crime." The Winnipeg Police Service does not have a "war mentality." This is simply an effective response to serious matters that have the support of most people living, working and owning businesses in those areas and that require this type of intervention in an effort to deal with those who choose to live outside of society's rules.