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This article was published 17/12/2014 (2105 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What was once an RCMP review of Winnipeg's police headquarters project is now a formal investigation by the Mounties.

RCMP "D" Division in Winnipeg announced Wednesday afternoon it is conducting a "full investigation" of the $210-million Winnipeg police-headquarters project, the subject of two of three scathing audits ordered up by city council in 2012.

On Aug. 15, Manitoba Justice forwarded Winnipeg's real‎-estate, police-HQ and fire-paramedic station audits to the RCMP - along with a letter alleging doctored police-HQ invoices and a payment to a member of council.

‎Manitoba RCMP investigators from the Federal, Serious and Organized Crime Unit then conducted two separate reviews, the Mounties said in a statement.

"One team of investigators has been working on the Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters file while another team has been working on the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic stations file," the statement said.

"The RCMP have completed a review of the forensic audit regarding the construction of the Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters and this is now considered a full investigation. The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic stations file is still under review."

Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman said he welcomed the RCMP investigation, explaining that it’s a necessary step in restoring the public’s faith in city hall.

"Winnipeggers need to get to the bottom of this. We all need to get to the bottom of this," Bowman told reporters during an hastily-called news conference outside his city hall offices.

"We need the RCMP to do their work."

Bowman said he knows little of the RCMP investigation other than what it stated in its news release following the raid on the offices of Caspian Construction.

Bowman said that the city will respond to any new revelations uncovered by the RCMP, adding the city’s legal department is preparing for that situation.

"This will not be the last time we speak about these matters… A lot of work has to happen and that’s what I’m here to do."

However, Bowman would not say how he could explain to the public that he is relying on the advice of the city’s legal department – the same legal team that informed the previous council that there was nothing wrong with either the police HQ project or the fire halls replacement project.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS An RCMP vehicle outside the offices of Caspian Construction Wednesday. Caspian is the firm in charge of the renovation of the new Winnipeg Police Service headquarters.

"At this stage we’ve been leveraging and using the resources of our own legal counsel and we’ll use outside legal counsel as and when appropriate."

Bowman vowed that anyone implicated in the investigation will be dealt with.

"If the RCMP do their work, and we find reasons for criminal wrongdoing… we will also take immediate steps."

Bowman promised further announcements on what measures are being implemented as a result of the three audits.

"One of the things we’ve already started looking at and taking steps on is what can we do to ensure there is greater integrity in the processes at city hall and greater faith in city hall based on the recommendations from the audits."

Bowman would not say if he’s considered removing Caspian Construction from completing the police HQ project.

"I’m not going to rule anything out but we’ve already engaged (the city’) legal counsel to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure Winnipeggers have faith in their city hall," Bowman said. "We want to make decisions based on facts and as we get those facts, we’ll take the appropriate steps immediately."

At about 8 a.m. Wednesday, RCMP officers executed a search warrant at the McGillivray Boulevard office of Caspian Construction, the firm overseeing the police-headquarters renovation.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., plainclothes officers walked out the front door with computers and placed them in an unmarked minivan‎.

The officers carried out what appeared to be three laptops, one PC tower and one Mac tower. The minivan drove away minutes later.

"This search warrant was in relation to this investigation. However, the search and the investigation are ongoing, so no further information will be provided at this time," the RCMP said.

Armik Babakhanians, Caspian's president, has been asked to comment.

Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis declined comment through a spokesperson.

Bowman also said his expectation is that similar situations will not occur once the city gets a permanent chief administrative in place, which is expected by early March.

Both the police headquarters project and the fire hall replacements projects were undertaken while Phil Sheegl was the CAO.

Sheegl, a close friend of former mayor Sam Katz, quit his job before the findings of the police HQ audit were released. Deepak Joshi, the former chief operating officer, was subsequently appointed to interim CAO.