City agrees to cover remaining cost of new police helicopter camera

Winnipeg's policehelicopter is getting a new infrared camera for its helicopter, after all.

In a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, the Winnipeg Police Board agreed to contribute another $100,000 toward the $560,000 purchase of a new thermal imaging system for Air1, the Winnipeg Police Service'shelicopter.

Thecameracantrackpeople usingheat signatures andis used to locatesuspects on the ground during pursuits.In February, the police said they need toreplace an aging, refurbished camerathat's at the end of its useful life.

• Winnipeg police want $360K for chopper despite review

The police board initially expected a new thermal imaging system to cost $360,000 and the city and province agreed to split the tab.

Since then, the cost of the new camera rose to $560,000, prompting the police to request additional funds from the province.The Pallister government, which is reviewing a wide range of funding commitments, refused to fork over the additional cash.

Amy McGuinness, a spokeswoman for Manitoba Justice Minister Heather Stefanson, said the province approved a $180,000 criminal forfeiture grant in February to cover what was then believed to be half the cost of the new camera.

"This capital expenditure was outside of the funding arrangement in which Manitoba pays 100 per centof the cost of the unit's sixpolice officers, twocivilian pilots, as well as the maintenance, fuels, hangar and office rental costs," McGuinness said in a statement on Tuesday.

"A request for an additional $100,000 grant from the province, after the cost to acquire the (infrared camera)increased" has been denied, she said.

On Wednesday, the police board agreed to cover the remainder of the purchase, said chairman Scott Gillingham, the city councillorfor St. James-Brooklands.

Gillingham said he understood the province's position, given that the terms of the funding deal for the helicopter callfor the province to pay for operations, not equipment.

The purchase comes as the province is supposed to be reviewing whether the police helicopter is needed in the first place. The former Selingergovernment promised an operational review of Air1but that review is not yet underway, despite the fact the province has issued atender,McGuinness said.

• Winnipeg police helicopter to face outside review, province confirms

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said while he is awaiting the results of the review, hebelieves the helicopter is beneficial for the police service.

"I've had the opportunity to go up in the helicopter and I've seen the benefitsof it," Bowman said on Tuesday.