Andrew Swan's bid to become the province's NDP leader, and premier, earned an endorsement from the Winnipeg Police Association after he promised Thursday to get tough on crime.

Some of the initiatives in Swan's strategy, unveiled Thursday morning, include adding resources to create and sustain citizen patrols, creating separate drug and mental-health courts to make sure offenders have access to appropriate rehabilitation, and dedicating Crown attorneys to work with police on major gang investigations.

He also promised to rebuild a now-defunct police gang database, ensure the promised launch of a cadet program for the Winnipeg Police Service, and dedicate more resources to go after street gangs and organized crime groups.

Swan said exisiting citizen patrols are overworked and burned out. With added resources, new members can be recruited and trained and new forces can be formed, he said.

"I don't want to see vigilantes on the streets. I don't want to see people endangering themselves to keep their neighborhoods safe. I want to refresh citizen's patrols," Swan said.

Police association president Mike Sutherland stood by Swan as the tough-on-crime announcement was made.

Recent headlines have brought undesired national attention to Winnipeg with news about gang violence, domestic violence, assaults on children, vigilante justice, stabbings and gunshots, and even a man being set on fire this week.

Swan is running against fellow candidates Greg Selinger and Steve Ashton. Like Swan, they all resigned from cabinet to seek the party leadership.

Fund for small businesses

On Thursday, Selinger held a press conference outside Pollock Harware Co-op on Main Street in Winnipeg to announce that, should he become premier, he would create a new fund to help more small businesses get established in Manitoba.

NDP delegates will choose their leader on leader Oct. 17. The winner will replace outgoing premier Gary Doer, who has been named Canada's next ambassador to the U.S.