Esquimalt Community Information

In July, members of the Esquimalt Division moved out of the old Public Safety Building to a new (temporary) police station in the municipal hall, previously occupied by the old Library.  Pending the construction of the new public safety building on the Park Place site, members of the Esquimalt Division including Patrol, Community Resource Officers, and administrative staff will continue to provide policing services to the Township from this new location.  The Esquimalt Division would like to acknowledge and thank the hard work of Township staff, Kinetic Construction, Core Project Management, and VicPD’s Information Technology Section for making this transition possible.

Esquimalt Division’s New (Temporary) Police Station

Vehicle With Stolen Plates Leads To Arrests

On August 7th, Esquimalt Division officers spotted a vehicle travelling with stolen plates, which had fled from police earlier that day, on Lyall Street. Officers followed the vehicle until it entered a parking lot near the West Bay walkway. There, officers conducted a high-risk vehicle stop and arrested two people. The vehicle’s connection to other files across Greater Victoria remains under investigation.

Officers Respond To Person In Crisis With Compassion And Care

Esquimalt Division officers responded to calls concerning a vulnerable person in crisis multiple times over a period lasting a number of days. Ultimately, officers apprehended the person, who became a severe risk to themselves, and stayed with them for many hours while they were brought to medical and later mental health care. The person, who suffered non-life-threatening self-inflicted injuries, remained in care.

Cst. Kevin Lastiwka’s lasting impression on Esquimalt

Cst. Kevin Lastiwka has completed a four-year tour as one of Esquimalt’s Community Resource Officers. Kevin is a kind, hard-working, and engaged member of VicPD who brought those qualities to bear as he served the communities of Esquimalt and Vic West. Whether it was responding to a community concern, attending a special event, or providing safety advice to our citizens and business owners, Kevin was the epitome of customer service.

Kevin not only made an impact on the community but also played a key role in creating a positive workplace culture at the Esquimalt Division. His work ethic and positive attitude are simply infectious. Kevin has now been transferred back to headquarters where he will continue to serve Esquimalt and Victoria as a member of the Patrol Division.

VicPD volunteers and VicPD Traffic officers helped keep returning Esquimalt and Victoria students safe by conducting a back to school Speed Watch blitz.  VicPD Speed Watch volunteers conducted speed watch in school zones every school day in September including deploying to high-concern areas in both Victoria and Esquimalt.

VicPD Speed Watch volunteers with Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins and School District 61 Board Chair Ryan Painter

Speeding and other traffic concerns raised near Lyall Street resulted in multiple responses by both Esquimalt Division and Community Engagement Division staff. In addition to direct observation by Esquimalt Division Officer In Charge Inspector Michael Brown, deployment of Esquimalt Division Patrol and Community Resource officers, Community Engagement Division staff worked with officers to foster awareness of the concerns in the community.

Social media was key to informing and engaging Esquimalt residents about traffic concerns on Lyall Street.

In addition to social media posts, VicPD partnered with CFB Esquimalt Public Affairs to create a multi-channel engagement plan to help address the concerning driving behaviour.  The result were social media posts with hundreds of likes, shares and which were seen by over 12,000 people, and an article in the CFB Esquimalt Lookout Navy News.

Partnership with CFB Esquimalt reached those who live in the community as well as those who work on base.

On September 19^th a concerned parent called the VicPD non-emergency line after their child came home from walking along the E&N Trail with a samurai sword they had found in the bushes. Despite VicPD’s request for a rightful owner to come forward, no one has yet to come forward to claim the sword.

This samurai sword was turned in after a child found it on the E&N Trail

On September 20^th, officers from both Esquimalt and Victoria located a person in significant medical and mental health distress after an hours-long search which began when a passerby discovered a pool of blood on the morning of Saturday, September 17th.  Officers, both on foot and in vehicles, traced a trail that extended over 4 kilometers across the Township of Esquimalt, into Vic West and then into downtown Victoria.  The victim was found by officers in both medical and psychological distress, with untreated injuries related to a medical condition that were resulting in significant bleeding. The person refused medical treatment. They were apprehended by officers under the Mental Health Act and brought to hospital for treatment. To date, the investigation indicates that the person’s injuries were due to a medical condition and not a criminal matter.