The Winkler Police Board is looking for public input to guide the future of policing in the city.

Board Member John Neufeld explains they hope to hold a public meeting in the near future to shape a strategic plan for the Winkler Police Board. He notes they're starting the process by collaborating with Winkler Police Service leadership.

For the past two years, the board has overseen major transitions in the composition of the Winkler Police Service, including the hiring of new Police Chief Ryan Hunt and Deputy Chief Chris Kalansky, as well as the implementation of a new platoon system.

Kalansky notes community engagement will be key in forming a strategic plan.

"We want to look both externally and internally," he notes. "We want to make sure we're meeting the community's needs... we have a finite number of resources and opportunities and we want to make sure we're actually fulfilling our core mandate of serving the community."

Coming priorities include new training opportunities and budgeting for looming technology costs, "and how that's going to assist us in performing our core mandate of providing policing in the community."

Kalansky notes the Province is rolling out a new communication radio system with the requirement of providing desktop and portable radios to all police members. While the new technology will enhance their service, he says it does come at significant cost.

Overall, Chief Hunt says the police board has been a great addition to communities across the Province. "They give some public input and direction to the police service which we really appreciate."

A date for a public meeting has not been set.