VicPD Community Rover
The VicPD Community Rover is used to help engage the citizens of Victoria and Esquimalt in conversations about their police department and raise awareness of our community values and recruiting focus. It will enable us to transport more people and equipment to community and sport events, school visits, recruiting opportunities and other activities, enhancing our Community Safety and Recruiting programs. When you see the Rover, you know that you can find an officer, professional staff member, Special Municipal Constable, Reserve Constable or Volunteer who can talk to you about what we do and how you can get involved in creating A Safer Community Together.
How Did We Get This Seized Vehicle?
The VicPD Community Rover is a no-cost lease from the Civil Forfeiture Office (CFO). When vehicles and other goods are seized as proceeds of crime, they are referred to CFO, which can approved or declined for forfeiture proceedings.
When seized vehicles are suitable to be repurposed, police agencies can apply to use them for community and police engagement, and police education programs such as anti-gang efforts.
How Much Does It Cost?
The VicPD Community Rover is leased from CFO at no cost. We have made a small investment in the design of the vehicle, and annual operating costs fall within our current budget.
The Design
The VicPD Community Rover is designed to reflect our community values, our partnerships and our recruiting focus.
The People
The officers, staff and volunteers represent the diversity found within VicPD, and our continued efforts to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve, as well as the importance of each role within the Department.
The children represent our dedication to connecting with youth, through sport programming and other engagement and education, which is an effective diversion from gang recruitment. We have many partners in these efforts, and we have highlighted them on the rear of the vehicle.
The presence of sports also speaks to a current recruiting focus as we actively encourage athletes to consider a career with VicPD.
Stqéyəʔ/Sta’qeya (The Wolf)
Our present day Coat of Arms (2010) and badge incorporates an image of Sta’qeya (wolf) that is depicted as a protector or guardian. Sta’qeya (Stekiya) is described as “a wolf couchant in the Coast Salish style” and was chosen to honour the memory of the indigenous inhabitants of Vancouver Island and our partners in protecting all the residents and visitors alike. It was created by Songhees artist and educator Yux’wey’lupton, known widely by his English name as Clarence “Butch” Dick, and is used in this format with his permission.
Partnerships & Crests
The logos on the rear of the vehicle represent just some of our community partnerships, with a focus on our youth, diversity, and recruiting efforts. From Left to Right:
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- Wounded Warriors is a key partner in the the wellness programming and support we offer our members and staff.
- The Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS Hockey) are partners in providing hockey programs to youth.
- The Victoria City Police Athletics Association proudly supports youth sport programming in hockey, basketball and golf.
- The VicPD Indigenous Heritage Crest was also designed by acclaimed educator and master carver Yux’wey’lupton, widely known by his English name, Clarence “Butch” Dick, and was conceptualized by our Indigenous Engagement Team as a way to honour the Indigenous heritage of those who serve our communities, and to represent our connection to the traditional Lekwungen territories where we live and work.