The new police chief in Winnipeg isn't officially on the job yet, but already he has stirred up controversy by saying religion could help cut the city's notoriously high crime rate.
   
Devon Clunis says prayer could play a significant role in making Winnipeg's streets safer.
   
A longtime chaplain with the Winnipeg Police Service, Clunis is to take over from outgoing Chief Keith McCaskill in December.
   
But not everyone is thrilled.
   
Professor Arthur Schafer, who teaches philosophy at the University of Manitoba, criticized the idea saying, there's no evidence that prayer reduces crime.
   
He adds some religious regions such as the southern United States have very high crime rates.
   
Winnipeg has long held the title of Canada's violent crime capital, the city recorded the highest homicide rate among major metropolitan areas in 2011.