Fentanyl crisis changes face of policing in Manitoba

Manitoba Mounties will get new protection froma tasteless, odourless substance that can kill: fentanyl.

The Manitoba government announced Fridayit is spending $54,000 to outfit RCMP officers in the province with breathing devices, eye protection and special canisters to secure deadly opioid drugs.

• The faces of Manitoba's fentanyl crisis

"I'm pleased to announce our investment in specialized equipment and other tools that will protect our front-line RCMP officers," Justice Minister Heather Stefansonsaid.

The province is using money from the criminal property forfeiture fund to buy the new gear and outfit 1,080 RCMP officers.

"Fentanyl is endangering the lives of Manitobans," Stefanson said. "It can also pose an unexpected risk to police officers as they respond to calls for service."

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Scott Kolody did not have precise numbers as to how often officers come into contact with fentanylbut said there have been "a number of cases" this past year.

"It's prevalent and it's here," saidKolody.

In Winnipeg, there have been a couple of recent cases of police coming into direct contact with deadly opioids.

In May three officers self-administered naloxone, the overdose reversal drug, because they fearedthey might have accidentally injested the drug. And last November, an officer was taken to hospital after he was accidentally exposed to fentanyl on the job.

Winnipeg police and Mounties in the province are both already equipped withnaloxone kits.

When RCMP see any type of powder or substance they are not familiar with, officers are trained to proceed with extreme caution, Kolody said.

"We don't take any chances," Kolody said.

The new breathing and eye protection will go a long way to supporting the health and safety of officers, he said.

• Winnipeg police armed with life-saving fentanyl overdose antidote

Stefansonsaid the province is still in discussions with Winnipeg police about theequipment they need to protect officers fromfentanyl.

Along with the new drug protection equipment, ManitobaRCMPare receiving$382,000 for new training and equipment, including road safety tools such as speed radar guns and licence plate readers.