Esquimalt Community Information

One of the most important, but most challenging moments of the quarter came on June 28th, when three VicPD officers were among six GVERT officers shot while responding to two heavily armed suspects at a bank in Saanich. In addition to providing direct operational and communications support to our Saanich Police Department partners as part of the immediate response to the incident, the Public Affairs section of the Community Engagement team continues to support the ongoing investigation and respond to community concern and the tremendous outpouring of community support.

A young girl wears a blue heart in support of GVERT officers

Historical Case Review Unit investigators released new photographs of missing Esquimalt woman Belinda Cameron. Belinda Cameron was last seen on May 11th, 2005. Belinda was last seen at Esquimalt’s Shoppers Drug Mart in the 800-block of Esquimalt Road that day. Belinda was reported missing nearly a month later, on June 4th, 2005. Officers conducted an extensive investigation and a series of searches for Belinda. She has not been found. Belinda’s disappearance is considered suspicious and investigators believe that Belinda was the victim of foul play. Her disappearance continues to be investigated as a homicide.

Early in the quarter, Esquimalt-based Patrol officers investigated a disturbing incident in which a man poured gasoline on an occupied boat at a marina in the 500-block of Head Street. The man threatened the boat’s occupants and dropped a lit cigarette in the poured gasoline, which failed to ignite, and then fled the area. The boat occupants secured the vessel and called police. Officers located the suspect in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue a short time later, and arrested him for uttering threats and for arson with disregard for human life. 

A Spanish-speaking Esquimalt Division officer was called to assist when a person in crisis resulting from an adverse drug reaction attempted to access a residence and then crawled into the skylight of an occupied Esquimalt home. Esquimalt Division and Patrol officers responded and utilized verbal de-escalation skills and conversational Spanish to resolve the situation such that the distraught person was taken into custody without incident or injury and transported to hospital for mental health care. 

In addition to conducting speed-board traffic safety deployments, laser speed deployments and assisting Esquimalt bylaw staff with enforcement and support, Esquimalt Division officers also provided armed response to the Saanich shooting on June 28^th. Esquimalt Division officers provided Patrol rifle overwatch during the search for potential additional suspects and remained on scene providing traffic control and investigative support.

VicPD launched the VicPD Indigenous Heritage Crest. VicPD’s Indigenous Engagement Team of First Nations and Metis members who have ancestral ties to the Cree, Kaska, Dena, Mi’kmaq, Mohawk, Naskapi and Ojibwe nations created VicPD’s crest to honour the Indigenous heritage of those who serve our communities as VicPD officers, civilian employees, special municipal constables, jail staff, and volunteers.

Acclaimed educator and master carver Yux’wey’lupton launches the VicPD Indigenous Engagement Crest with Det. Cst. Sandi Haney and Cst. Cam MacIntyre

The VicPD Indigenous Heritage Crest was designed by acclaimed educator and master carver Yux’wey’lupton, a true visionary guide and knowledge-keeper, known widely by his English name, Clarence “Butch” Dick. Butch was also instrumental in helping design our VicPD crest, which prominently features the Sta’qeya, or Coast Salish wolf, as a way to represent our connection to the traditional Lekwungen territories where we live and work.

In Q2, VicPD completed another successful annual community survey project in both Esquimalt and Victoria. Key findings for Esquimalt include an 85% overall satisfaction rate with VicPD’s service, and 95% of Esquimalt respondents agreeing that “Police and citizens working together can make this a better place to live and work.”