What is a Community Safety Officer?

The city of Selkirk has had one Community Safety Officer (CSO) since May 2025. A CSO is a provincially appointed Peace Officer as laid out in Manitoba’s Police Services Act. While they don’t respond to emergencies like the city’s RCMP officers, they focus on intervening in unsafe behavior and working alongside RCMP and other agencies to help keep the community safe.

In order for a local authority to have a CSO, they must enter into an agreement with the provincial government and are only able to enforce those provisions listed in the Community Safety Officer Regulation.

What do they do?

A CSO can enforce provincial legislation, intervene for criminal code offenses, conduct traffic enforcement, frequent community events, participate in crime prevention strategies with the local RCMP service.

Their primary focus is taking proactive actions to deter crime, encourage better traffic behavior and create a collaborative response between the city and stakeholders that focuses on education and preventions along with enforcement.

What types of authorities will the Community Safety Officer have?

Although the Police Services Act outlines the full range of legislation Community Safety Officers may be authorized to enforce, each local authority decides which specific acts will actually be enabled in their community. As a result, not all legislation listed under the Community Safety Officer Section of the Act and/or CSO Regulation will apply in every municipality.

Am I required to pull over for a Community Safety Officer?

Yes, citizens are required to stop their vehicle when signaled by a CSO as per Section 72(1)(a) of the Highway Traffic Act which states:

72(1) Compliance with the orders of a peace officer

Every person shall
(a) stop his vehicle when required so to do by a signal from a peace officer under subsection (1);

Will the Community Safety Officer hand out tickets?

Yes, the CSO has the ability to hand out both provincial tickets within their authority as well as municipal penalties for by-law enforcement infractions.

What are the most common types of tickets that will be issued by the Community Safety Officer?

The Community Safety Officer is able to issue tickets under various Provincial Acts most notably; the Community Safety Officer may issue tickets for:

  • Disobey Traffic Control Device (stop signs, red lights)
  • Seatbelts
  • Distracted Driving
  • Speeding
  • Improper Child Restraint
  • Smoking with a Child in the Car
  • Illegal Liquor Transport
  • Impaired Driving
  • Improper Driving (driving on the sidewalk)

How much will my Provincial Ticket be?

Values for tickets issued under provincial legislation can be found in the Manitoba Brown Book.

I received a provincial ticket. How do I pay for it?

Provincial tickets issued by a CSO must be paid through Manitoba Justice using one of the following options:

For more information about paying provincial tickets please visit the Manitoba Justice website.

Municipal penalties issued by a CSO can be paid by attending 200 Eaton Ave in person, Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm or by using one of the city’s self-serve options listed here.

How do I dispute my ticket?

Provincial tickets can be disputed by calling the Provincial Offences Court during the response period shown on your ticket at 204-945-3156 or toll free at 1-800-282-8069.

More information about disputing a provincial ticket can be found here.

Municipal penalties can by disputed by making an appointment with one of the city’s Screening Officers. More information on disputing a municipal penalty can be found here.

What training is required to become a Community Safety Officer?

View the training requirements HERE

Report a Traffic Concern

Report a Traffic Concern

Resources

Province of Manitoba – Safety Officer Program
Community Safety Officers Regulation
Police Services Amendment Act