Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 24, 1998, Winnipeg, Manitoba Brandon eyes new Public safety building by Helen falling regional reporter Brandon a the Days of squeezing fire trucks into a fire Hall built for horse drawn carriages in 1911 May be numbered. This week Brandon City Council approved $125,000 for the design of a new Public safety building to House the City a police and fire departments As Well As the regions 911 service. Before approving More Money for detailed architectural design the City will study traffic flow and meet with Neighbours in the downtown area near lome Avenue and 7th Street where the new fire Hall May be built. While the Central fire Hall a one of to o in the City a is in urgent need of replacement the police department will also need upgrading As the City grows. A by putting them both together its actually cheaper a said Deputy fire chief Richard Gregoire. Inter group consultants estimated that the new $6.5-mi 11 Ion building would Cost taxpayers $50,000 to $100,000 a year Over 20 years while building a separate fire station and renovating the police station could Cost $410,000 a year. The Cost difference relates to savings from shared services and income from Selling the existing police station. A Developer wants to build a shopping Centre in the area. Gregoire said people have talked about turning the historic downtown fire Hall into a Coffee bar with offices upstairs but that would be up to whoever buys it. Councillor Margo Campbell is not convinced that a Public safety building should be built downtown even though the City has already bought some land for the development. Night time sirens and handcuffed criminals might not mix Well with seniors in a nearby housing Complex or children visiting the Myca and Library she said. But police chief Dick Scott said 30 per cent of police Calls come from the downtown area and he would like to increase police presence there. A people Start to feel Safe people Start coming Back downtown a he said. Campbell thinks the whole project is moving too fast. A we Inch ourselves closer to the Point where nobody has enough nerve to change their mind because we be spent so much Money now a she said. Campbell believes councillors should wait until they know what it will Cost to build a w Aste water treatment Plant for Maple Leaf meats before committing to other major from police chief upset no women made Cut Brandon charged in shooting Brandon two 25 year old Brandon men were charged with attempted murder yesterday As a 30-year-old Winnipeg Man recovers in Hospital from gunshot wounds. Timothy Loyd Elliot and Shane Skinner were arrested in Alberta Early yesterday , about 12 hours after a Man suffering from gunshot wounds staggered onto a gravel Road about eight Kilometres West of Brandon. Ramp Are not releasing the name of the victim who is recovering from surgery. His condition was described As serious but not life threatening. The suspects believed to have known the victim Are being returned to Brandon for questioning said Cpl. Doug Gormley. He said its too Early to comment on a possible motive. The shots were fired from a Long barrelled weapon in a wooded area he said. Spartans member to appear in court Brandon a a member of the spartans motorcycle gang was scheduled to appear in court in Estevan sask., today on cocaine trafficking charges. The 31-year-old Brandon resident who police refused to name until after his court appearance w As arrested yesterday in Brandon and charged with conspiring to traffic in co came trafficking cocaine Possession of marijuana and breach of probation. A 26-year-old Estevan Man faces similar charges. Sgt. John Leitch of Regina a integrated drug unit said the cocaine is believed to have been transported from Brandon to Estevan. Three other men and to o women All from Estevan were arrested simultaneously and charged with crimes related to magic mushrooms hashish and marijuana. Other charges May be pending. The arrests were the culmination of a six month investigation started by Estevan police that expanded to involve Brandon police. Officers from Regina with expertise in drug investigation were called in to help said Leitch because Estevan has a Small police Force. The town of about 12,000 is in Eastern Saskatchewan near the . Border. By Helen falling regional reporter Brandon a nine White men will join the Brandon police service in november despite the City a attempts to build a More diverse police Force. Police chief Dick Scott said he was disappointed that women and members of other under represented groups did not make the final Cut. Currently four of the City a 63 offi cers Are women a below the National average of 11 per cent. The City also has four aboriginal officers. Brandon administrators will review each step of the hiring process to see where members of those groups were eliminated. A we believe we lost a lot of women during the practical ability test a that a the physical part of it a said Scott. While the police service has no intention of lowering its standards Scott said those who did not make the Grade will be Given information on How to improve their skills before the next round of hiring. Some need academic upgrading while others need to build physical strength. The recruits will hit the streets after 14 weeks of classroom training although they will be on probation for a year. Brandon police officers have been working extra shifts since losing nine of their Peers through retirement or transfers to other cities. More than 250 people applied for the nine positions with candidates going through a 12-step process that included a written exam and psychological testing. For the first time civilians helped screen candidates. J. A 26-year-old sheriffs officer who was offered one of the jobs Friday said its a dream come True a he has wanted to become a police officer since he was about 12. A my mom Stop crying a said the Young Man who has a sociology degree. Use your air Milfs card for a Chance to win 10000 air mlle so Reinard Miles w of liquor marts Milch where there s Riviore in More Pense drink rest Sibly moderation fistes so Mut h belter / Rogers c Namur nation entert ointment information starting october 5, Ottawa to Walla Wallis a local Call and vice versa.1 .800.462.4463 a Rogers Cantel inc. F corp. Used under License. Art ;