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Cliff Cullen speaks during an announcement outside the Health Sciences Centre, in Winnipeg on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Geraldine Malone) Cliff Cullen speaks during an announcement outside the Health Sciences Centre, in Winnipeg on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Geraldine Malone)

WINNIPEG — Manitoba sheriff’s officers are getting added responsibility as the province hires 11 additional officers and increases the police presence in eastern Manitoba.

Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced Wednesday the province is spending $2.5 million annually to fund the new positions in the eastern district and covers prisoner transportation-related costs.

“Our government is finding ways to help free up police resources and ensure police officers are able to actively patrol our communities and focus their efforts on crime prevention, intervention and investigation,” said Cullen.

“Sheriff’s officers are already responsible for inmate transportation and court security in other regions and handle their duties with dedication and professionalism. It is a wise investment to expand their responsibility into eastern Manitoba as part of our broader commitment to public safety.”

Cullen says the investment means more police officers will be patrolling eastern Manitoba communities as sheriff’s officers transport inmates to court and provide court security in the region.

The eastern district is bounded by Garden Hill in the north, east to the Manitoba-Ontario border, south to the American border and to the east side of Lake Manitoba. It includes communities such as Altona, Arborg, Berens River, Emerson, Garden Hill, Gimli, Little Grand Rapids, Peguis, Powerview-Pine Falls, Selkirk, St-Pierre-Jolys, Steinbach and Stonewall.

Our government is finding ways to free up police resources, ensuring that officers are able to actively patrol our communities. That’s why we are investing nearly $2.5 million annually to hire 11 sheriffs officers for the Eastern District of Manitoba. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/bZ6MojJqlC — Cliff Cullen (@CliffCullen4MLA) February 26, 2020