Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 

Victoria, B.C. – Today, the Victoria Police Department celebrated extraordinary acts of courage and community service, honouring six citizens with Civic Service Awards during a ceremony in the VicPD Hall of Honour. 

Chief Constable Del Manak presented each recipient with a personalized award, acknowledging their selfless actions that went above and beyond to protect and support our community. 


Chief Manak Presenting Sage Lathrop a Civic Service Award 

Sage Lathrop’s quick thinking and sharp observation prevented a vulnerable citizen from becoming the victim of a devastating fraud. While in a local convenience store, he observed a panicked elderly woman on the phone depositing $100 bills into a bitcoin machine. He tried to warn the woman it was likely a scam, but she did not listen. He then wrote down the license plate of the vehicle she was in and reported it to police. Ultimately, police determined it was a scam and were able to intervene, preventing her from losing more money. Sage’s proactive efforts saved a potential loss of $25,000. 


Chief Manak Presenting Marina Wang (left), Sam Turcott (middle) and Andrea Lee (right) their Civic Service Awards 

When a woman was found holding onto the edge of a railing on the Johnson Street bridge, the combined bravery and quick action of Andrea Lee, Sam Turcott, and Marina Wang made all the difference. The trio immediately called 9-1-1 and worked seamlessly as a team to safely bring the woman back over the railing to safety. They remained with her until police arrived. Their quick thinking and compassionate actions potentially saved a life. 


Barbara Haynes and David Ng were Recognized For Over 25 Years of Service as VicPD Volunteers 

For 25 years, Barbara Haynes and David Ng have been pillars of support for the Victoria Police Department as dedicated volunteers. Barbara started volunteering with VicPD after seeing an advertisement in the Times Colonist and thought the idea of volunteering in a police department sounded fascinating. Barbara has served the community as a Front Desk volunteer, greeting and assisting members of the public who come into the department.   

David became a volunteer as he was interested in a career in policing at the time, and he wanted to help others in the community. He started as a Crime Watch volunteer, going out into the community with his team conducting foot and bike patrols, where they recorded and reported their observations to assist us with community safety. David now serves as a special projects volunteer, writing reports on road safety for ICBC. 

“Civic Service Awards are particularly meaningful to me because they allow us to recognize individuals who made a conscious choice to improve our communities,” said Chief Constable Del Manak. “In policing, we often say ‘we can’t do it alone.’ While we strive to be everywhere, ready to help, we know that is not possible. Thankfully, citizens like those we are recognizing today step up to make a difference. It truly takes a collective effort to keep our communities healthy and safe.” 

Today’s Civic Service Awardees will have their names proudly displayed in the VicPD Hall of Honour, joining a legacy of individuals recognized for their exceptional bravery and service. 

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