Victoria, BC – This week, VicPD officers, together with officers and reserves from all Greater Victoria area municipal police departments and RCMP detachments, are supporting the return of Police Camp to the region. Police Camp is a leadership development program that ran for over 20 successful years, ending in 2013. Police Camp 2023 is taking place from March 18-25 at CFB Esquimalt WorkPoint and is intended to become an annual event once again.
Greater Victoria high school students from grades 10-12 were invited to apply to Police Camp through an application and interview process. Almost 70 applications were received, resulting in organizers increasing to 50 positions from the originally planned 30 positions.
Throughout the week, students have been involved in daily physical training, classroom lectures, interactive sessions with presenters, and skills development through hands-on exercises. Students have learned about contemporary public safety topics, developed their natural leadership traits, and further developed skills working as a team.
In addition to the contributions of all area agencies, VicPD has three police officers dedicated full-time as leaders for Police Camp. They have been re-assigned from their regular duties for the week to support the camp. The many additional hours of leadership and supervision during evenings are volunteer.
In addition to the three leadership team members, several other VicPD officers and reserve constables have volunteered as lecturers, presenters and as actors in scenarios that are taking place throughout the week. VicPD firmly believes that relationship and trust-building between police and the community, especially youth, is vital to a safe and healthy community and we are proud to support this initiative.
Police Camp is made possible by funding from the founding members of the Greater Victoria Police Foundation and the mutual support and cooperation of several municipal police forces and local RCMP, and is an example of the excellent work that can be achieved when everyone contributes towards a common purpose.
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