Victoria, BC – Earlier this evening, the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board announced that they have renewed my appointment as Chief Constable of the Victoria Police Department.

I am honoured and humbled by this decision.

The women and men of the Victoria Police Department have achieved so much since I was appointed Acting Chief in 2015, not because of me, but because they are some of the most talented, professional, caring, and compassionate people anyone could ever have the privilege of knowing.

And that is the most exciting part of this announcement for me: I now get to work alongside the women and men of VicPD, both officers and civilian staff, for another four years.

We have our work cut out for us.  In my 27 years with VicPD, I have never seen our officers and staff as busy as they are today.  And with increasing demands for policing services throughout Victoria and Esquimalt, I don’t see that trend reversing any time soon.

However, we have a plan.  The work we need to do is clearly laid out in the three goals of our new strategic plan A Safer Community Together: support community safety, enhance public trust, and achieve organizational excellence.  I am excited to work with our community, our Board and all divisions within VicPD to deliver on our new strategic plan over the next four years.

But my priority is to deliver the first-rate policing that our citizens expect in a way that is sustainable for the women and men of VicPD.  We have to continue the open and honest conversations about the mental health of first responders and the ongoing toll that this work can take on all of us.  We have to do better when it comes to protecting our people from operational stress injuries and helping them when they are affected by the demands of the job.

One factor that helps us immensely is the support we receive from the communities of Victoria and Esquimalt.  Day after day, I gratefully receive your words of thanks for the work of my officers and staff.  These expressions of appreciation remind us all why we come into work and why we serve our communities.  I look forward to continuing to serve as your Chief Constable and as a representative of the women and men of the Victoria Police Department.

Finally, I would like to thank my family for their sacrifice, support and encouragement they provide me every day.  They continually inspire me to be better at everything I do.

 

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