Township of Esquimalt: 2022 – Q4
As part of our ongoing Open VicPD transparency initiative, we introduced Community Safety Report Cards as a way to keep everyone up to date with how the Victoria Police Department is serving the public. These report cards, which are published quarterly in two community-specific versions (one for Esquimalt and one for Victoria), offer both quantitative and qualitative information about crime trends, operational incidents, and community engagement initiatives. It is hoped that, through this proactive sharing of information, our citizens have a better understanding of how VicPD is working toward its strategic vision of “A Safer Community Together.”
Description
Charts (Esquimalt)
Calls for Service (Esquimalt)
Call for Service (CFS) are requests for services from, or reports to the police department that generate any action on the part of the police department or partner agency performing work on behalf of the police department (such as E-Comm 9-1-1).
CFS include recording a crime/incident for reporting purposes. CFS are not generated for proactive activities unless the officer generates a specific CFS report.
The types of calls are broken into six main categories: social order, violence, property, traffic, assist, and other. For a list of calls within each of these call categories, please click here.
Annual trends show a decrease in total CFS in 2019 and 2020. Since January 2019, abandoned calls, which are included in the total number of calls and can often generate a police response, are no longer captured by the E-Comm 911/Police Dispatch Centre in the same way. This has significantly reduced the total number of CFS. Also, policy changes with regard to abandoned 911 calls from cell phones occurred in July 2019, further reducing these CFS totals. Additional factors that have reduced the number of 911 calls include increased education and changes to cell phone design so that emergency calls could no longer be activated by a one-button push.
These important changes are reflected in the following abandoned 911 call figures, which are included in the displayed CFS totals and are largely responsible for the recent decrease in total CFS:
2016 = 8,409
2017 = 7,576
2018 = 8,554
2019 = 4,411
2020 = 1,296
Esquimalt Total Calls for Service – By Category, Quarterly
Source: VicPD
Esquimalt Total Calls for Service – By Category, Annually
Source: VicPD
VicPD Jurisdiction Calls for Service – Quarterly
Source: VicPD
VicPD Jurisdiction Calls for Service – Annually
Source: VicPD
Crime Incidents – VicPD Jurisdiction
Number of Crime Incidents (VicPD Jurisdiction)
- Violent Crime Incidents
- Property Crime Incidents
- Other Crime Incidents
These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.
Crime Incidents – VicPD Jurisdiction
Source: Statistics Canada
Response Time (Esquimalt)
Response time is defined as the time that elapses between the time a call is received to the time the first officer arrives on scene.
Charts reflect median response times for the following Priority One and Priority Two calls in Esquimalt.
Response Time – Esquimalt
Source: VicPD
NOTE: Times are displayed in minutes and second. For example, “8.48” indicates 8 minutes and 48 seconds.
Crime Rate (Esquimalt)
The crime rate, as published by Statistics Canada, is the number of Criminal Code violations (excluding traffic offences) per 100,000 population.
- Total Crime (excluding traffic)
- Violent Crime
- Property Crime
- Other Crime
Data Updated | For all data up to and including 2019, Statistics Canada reported VicPD’s data for its combined jurisdiction of Victoria and Esquimalt. Beginning in 2020, StatsCan is separating that data for both communities. Therefore, the charts for 2020 do not display data for past years as direct comparisons are not possible with this change of methodology. As data is added over successive years, however, year-to-year trends will be displayed.
These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.
Crime Rate – Esquimalt
Source: Statistics Canada
Crime Severity Index (Esquimalt & Victoria)
The crime severity index (CSI), as published by Statistics Canada, measures both the volume and severity of police-reported crime in Canada. In the index, all crimes are assigned a weight by Statistics Canada based on their seriousness. The level of seriousness is based on actual sentences handed down by the courts in all provinces and territories.
This chart shows the CSI for all municipal police services in BC as well as the provincial average for all police services. For VicPD’s jurisdiction, the CSI for the City of Victoria and the Township of Esquimalt are shown separately, which is a feature that was first introduced with the release of 2020 data. For historic CSI figures that show combined CSI data for VicPD’s jurisdiction of both Victoria and Esquimalt, click here VicPD 2019 Crime Severity Index (CSI).
These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.
Crime Severity Index – Esquimalt & Victoria
Source: Statistics Canada
Crime Severity Index (Non-Violent) – Esquimalt & Victoria
Source: Statistics Canada
Crime Severity Index (Violent) – Esquimalt & Victoria
Source: Statistics Canada
Weighted Clearance Rate (Esquimalt)
Clearance rates represent the proportion of criminal incidents solved by the police.
Data Updated | For all data up to and including 2019, Statistics Canada reported VicPD’s data for its combined jurisdiction of Victoria and Esquimalt. Beginning in 2020 data, StatsCan is separating that data for both communities. Therefore, the charts for 2020 do not display data for past years as direct comparisons are not possible with this change of methodology. As data is added over successive years, however, year-to-year trends will be displayed.
These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.
Weighted Clearance Rate (Esquimalt)
Source: Statistics Canada
Perception of Crime (Esquimalt)
Community and business survey data from 2021 as well as past community surveys: “Do you think that crime in Esquimalt has increased, decreased or remained the same during the last 5 years?”
Perception of Crime (Esquimalt)
Source: VicPD
Block Watch (Esquimalt)
This chart shows the numbers of active blocks in the VicPD Block Watch program.
Block Watch – Esquimalt
Source: VicPD
Public Satisfaction (Esquimalt)
Public satisfaction with VicPD (community and business survey data from 2022 as well as past community surveys): “Overall, how satisfied are you with the work of the Victoria Police?”
Public Satisfaction – Esquimalt
Source: VicPD
Perception of Accountability (Esquimalt)
Perception of accountability of VicPD officers from community and business survey data from 2022 as well as past community surveys: “Based on your own personal experience, or what you may have read or heard, please indicate whether you agree or disagree that the Victoria Police is accountable.”
Perception of Accountability – Esquimalt
Source: VicPD
Documents Released to the Public
These charts show the number of community updates (news releases) and reports published, as well the number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that are released.
Documents Released to the Public
Source: VicPD
FOI Documents Released
Source: VicPD
Overtime Costs (VicPD)
- Investigation and specialized units (This includes investigations, specialized units, protests and other)
- Staff shortage (Cost associated with replacing absent staff, normally for last minute injury or illness)
- Statutory holiday (Mandatory overtime costs for staff working Statutory Holidays)
- Recovered (This is related to special duties and overtime for seconded specialty units where all costs are recovered from outside funding resulting in no additional cost to VicPD)
Overtime Costs (VicPD) in dollars ($)
Source: VicPD
Public Safety Campaigns (VicPD)
The number of public safety campaigns initiated by VicPD and those local, regional, or national campaigns supported by, but not necessarily initiated by VicPD.
Public Safety Campaigns (VicPD)
Source: VicPD
Police Act Complaints (VicPD)
Total files opened by the Professional Standards office. Open files do not necessarily result in an investigation of any type. (Source: Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner)
- Admissible registered complaints (complaints resulting in a formal Police Act investigation)
- Number of reported substantiated investigations (Police Act investigations that resulted in one or more counts of misconduct being established)
Police Act Complaints (VicPD)
Source: Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner of BC
NOTE: Dates are provincial government fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) i.e. “2020” indicates April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
Case Load per Officer (VicPD)
The average number of criminal files assigned to each officer. The average is calculated by dividing the total number of files by the authorized strength of the police Department (Source: Police Resources in BC, Province of British Columbia).
This chart reflects the latest data available. The charts will be updated when new data is available.
Case Load per Officer (VicPD)
Source: Police Resources in BC
Time Loss in Shifts (VicPD)
VicPD’s operational effectiveness can be, and has been, affected by having employees unable to work. The loss of time recorded in this chart includes both physical and mental health injuries which occur in the workplace. This does not include time lost for off-duty injury or illness, parental leave, or leaves of absence. This chart shows this time loss in terms of shifts lost by both officers and civilian employees by calendar year.
Time Loss in Shifts (VicPD)
Source: VicPD
Deployable Officers (% of total strength)
This is the percentage of officers who are fully deployable to policing duties with no restrictions.
Please note: This is a Point-in-Time calculation each year, as the actual number fluctuates widely throughout the year.
Deployable Officers (% of total strength)
Source: VicPD
Volunteer / Reserve Constable Hours (VicPD)
This is the number of volunteer hours annually performed by volunteers and Reserve Constables.
Volunteer / Reserve Constable Hours (VicPD)
Source: VicPD
Training Hours per Officer (VicPD)
Average training hours is calculated by the total number of hours of training divided by the authorized strength. All training is accounted for including training related to specialized positions such as the Emergency Response Team, and off-duty training required under the Collective Agreement.
Training Hours per Officer (VicPD)
Source: VicPD
Esquimalt Community Information
The Victoria Police Department’s accomplishments, opportunities and challenges from 2022 are best highlighted through the three main strategic goals of VicPD as outlined in our strategic plan.
Support Community Safety
VicPD supported community safety throughout 2022 38,909 responses to calls for service, as well as ongoing investigation of offenses. However, the severity of crime in VicPD’s jurisdiction (as measured by Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index), remained among the highest of municipally-policed jurisdictions in B.C., and well above the provincial average. In addition, VicPD’s ability to respond to the volume and severity of calls was challenged significantly in 2022 due to a continuing trend of officer injuries due to both physical and mental health causes, and the outfall of the June 28 BMO shooting.
Enhance Public Trust
VicPD remains committed to earning and enhancing the public’s trust in our organization through the Open VicPD online information hub which allows citizens to access a wide range of information including community service results, quarterly Community Safety Report Cards, community updates and online crime mapping. As a measure of public trust, the 2022 VicPD Community Survey findings indicated that 82% of respondents in Victoria and Esquimalt were satisfied with VicPD’s service (equal to 2021), and 69% agreed that they feel safe and taken care of by VicPD (down from 71% in 2021). VicPD and especially the GVERT received an outpouring of visible support in the months following the June 28 BMO shooting.
Achieve Organizational Excellence
The primary focus for organizational improvements in 2022 was hiring a significant number of new and experienced police officers and staff to fill operational gaps and retirements in the Department. In 2022, VicPD hired a total of 44 staff including 14 new recruits, 10 experienced officers, 4 Special Municipal Constables, 4 jailers and 12 civilians.
In addition, by incorporating high quality training, the Investigative Services Division continued to build capacity to investigate emerging crime trends including: virtual and real kidnapping events, cybercrimes, and human trafficking. In 2022 Major Crimes Detectives received kidnapping training from experts from the National Crime Agency, Kidnap and Extortion Unit, United Kingdom. While the Forensic Identification Section built its capacity to carry out Shooting Incident Reconstruction, a technique that was utilized at the June 2022 shooting at the Bank of Montreal in Saanich; VicPD’s Forensic Identification Section took the lead on the shooting reconstruction component at this complex crime scene.
In 2022 all officers completed mandatory trauma-informed practices training.
VicPD continues to make progress towards our three main strategic goals outlined in VicPD Strategic Plan 2020. Specifically, in Q4, the following goal-specific work was accomplished:
Support Community Safety
The Community Services Division re-instated Reserve duties and hours, and commenced training of a new class of Reserve Constables.
In cooperation with the BC Solicitor General’s Civil Forfeiture Office (CFO), VicPD’s Investigative Services Division is now working with a full time CFO officer, embedded at VicPD, who is assisting with the preparation of civil forfeiture applications. These applications allow the Province to seize assets including money and property when there is evidence that they were used in the commission of an offence. Typically, these seizures are the result of drug investigations where offenders are found in possession of large amount of cash and vehicles acquired through the sale of illicit substances. This CFO position is fully funded by the Province and will enhance VicPD’s capacity to take the profit out of illicit drug trafficking.
The Records Division implemented enhanced report writing initiatives to improve file clearance rates, as reported to the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics. They also conducted internal assessments of the Exhibit Unit to reduce the amount of property being collected and retained by the Victoria Police Department and to enhance exhibit labelling and storage methods to ensure our processes meet or exceeded industry standards.
Enhance Public Trust
With the lifting of COVID restrictions, patrol members attended community events again and the Community Services Division facilitated new Victoria City Council members to come out on ‘walk-abouts’ with HR OIC and Community Resource Officers.
In cooperation with the Community Engagement Division, the Investigative Services Division’s Strike Force team continues to inform the public through media releases about their ongoing efforts to combat the overdose crisis through drug enforcement. Strike Force focuses their efforts on mid to high level fentanyl and methamphetamine dealers as part of Canada’s National Drug Strategy to reduce overdose deaths.
The Records Division increased emphasis on purging archived files to reduce the amount of data being held by the Victoria Police Department that met the retention period.
VicPD also actively participated in providing recommendations regarding the collection of data on Indigenous and racialized identity of all victims and accused persons as it pertains to criminal incidents through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) survey.
Achieve Organizational Excellence
In the 4th quarter, VicPD delivered recommendations on the Court Liaison position and created a Missing Persons Investigator position. The Patrol Division also completed in-house training in patrol tactics, less-lethal and training for new and acting NCOs.
The Records Division continued to implement and enhance the use of the Provincial Digital Evidence Management system that allows the department and investigators to store, manage, transfer, receive and share digital evidence, while working with our provincial justice partners on improved disclosure methods and standardization.
In Q4 in Esquimalt, officers received a call from a man who complained that his 28-year-old son had stabbed him. The son then turned the knife on himself and inflicted multiple wounds to his body. Officers deployed CEW and beanbag shotgun multiple times with limited results, which did not stop the male from continuing to harm himself. Eventually the man was sedated and assisted by BCEHS Advanced Life Support.
Officers also responded to a male who had fallen off his roof, providing CPR for eight minutes until EHS/Esquimalt Fire attended. In another call, officers investigated a break and enter through an unlocked door in which garbage was left behind.
Finally, during a roadblock, Traffic members reported a pickup truck that had U-turned and fled away from them. Shortly after, the truck smashed into a tree and two male occupants were seen running across the field at Esquimalt High. Records indicated that the vehicle was connected to a man with outstanding warrants and K9 was brought in for tracking. The passenger was picked up hiding in a construction site and charges were submitted for the driver.
November – Poppy Drive
Members of the Esquimalt Division worked alongside the Esquimalt Lions for the annual Poppy Campaign.
November – Remembrance Day Ceremony (Memorial Park)
Chief Manak, Deputy Laidman, Insp. Brown and a contingent of members attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in Memorial Park.
December – Celebration of Lights
Chief Manak, Deputy Laidman and other staff members attended and participated in the Celebration of Lights Parade.
December – Esquimalt Lions Christmas Hampers
Inspector Brown, Cst. Shaw, and Ms. Anna Mickey worked with the Esquimalt Lions to prepare and deliver Christmas food hampers to those in need in the Township.
December – Christmas Toy Drive
Esquimalt Community Resource Officer Cst. Ian Diack collected and delivered toys for the Salvation Army High Point Church.
At the end of the year a net operating deficit of approximately $92,000 is expected due to retirement expenditures exceeding the budget. We continue to experience a significant number of retirements, a trend that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. These numbers are not yet finalized and as we complete the year end process they may yet change. Capital expenditures were approximately $220,000 below budget due to delays in vehicle deliveries and the unused capital funds will be rolled over into the 2023 budget.