After months trying to get funding approved to upgrade Air 1’s thermal imaging camera the Winnipeg Police Service has announced that they have secured the money needed.

The Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg had each allocated monies for the camera.  However, due to exchange rate fluctuations, the price increased, creating a funding shortfall. 

The province had said that they would not provide any additional funding to make up the shortfall. They had already approved $180K via the criminal forfeiture grant in February to cover half the cost of the new camera. Currently the province pays the staffing, operations and facility costs associated with operating the police helicopter.

The Winnipeg Police Board met Wednesday in a closed door session and approved an additional $100,000 in order for the camera to be replaced.

-News4 Staff-