Township of Esquimalt: 2023 – Q1

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.”

Esquimalt Community Information

Strategic Plan Highlights

Support Community Safety  

Enhance Public Trust  

Achieve Organizational Excellence 

In the first quarter of 2023 the Patrol Division and the Community Services Division implemented a significant two-year pilot restructuring the resources and workflow in each division. While more formal evaluations of the restructuring will take place in the future, the early indications are that the initiative has improved service delivery to the community, improved job satisfaction within the divisions, and reduced pressures on the Patrol Division.

The new deployment model has allowed members of Patrol more time for proactive work, which has included more foot patrols connecting with businesses and community members, and small projects targeting crimes of concern in our jurisdiction. One of these projects targeted the significant amount of shoplifting at some retailers in the downtown core and resulted in the arrest of 12 people and the return of more than $16,000 of new merchandise.

CSD’s new General Investigation Section (GIS) has resulted in quicker action on files that required investigative work, with dedicated investigators taking on complex files seven days per week. GIS officers had multiple significant files in Q1 ranging from search warrants that resulted in the seizure of multiple loaded firearms, kilograms of controlled substances and hundreds of thousands of dollars of stolen merchandise to the location and arrest of a high-risk offender arrested outside a school. More details on these files are below.

This quarter, Esquimalt Division officers responded to calls for service ranging from significant domestic violence to an ongoing investigation into damage to the irrigation system at the pavilion at Esquimalt park. ​

Files of note:​

​Over $11,000 In Stolen Property Recovered After Search Warrant Leads To Arrest​

​Files: 23-7488, 23-6079, 23-4898, 23-4869​

A Victoria man who broke into multiple businesses across Greater Victoria, including the same technology company on Head Street in Esquimalt – twice – was arrested by officers in March.​

Following the break and enter investigations, staff with our Analysis and Intelligence Section (AIS) liaised with partners in the region and discovered potential links to a number of similar break and enters. They identified a suspect and worked to locate him.​

The suspect was located at a unit in a multi-unit residential supportive housing building in the 700-block of Queens Avenue. Officers obtained a search warrant for the unit and executed it on Friday, March 3, 2023. During the search, officers located property linking the suspect back to multiple break and enter investigations, and the suspect, hiding under a mattress. He was arrested and transported to VicPD cells. The value of the recovered stolen property was in excess of $11,000.​

Upon confirming his identity, officers determined the suspect to be in multiple breaches of court-ordered conditions related to previous convictions.​

The man faces 23 recommended charges.​

Esquimalt Division Officers Reunite Family With Lost Stroller​

File: 23-9902 ​

Managing a new family can be difficult. That’s why Esquimalt Division officers were bound and determined to reunite a family with their baby stroller after it was discovered left behind in Memorial Park  on Saturday, March 18. Esquimalt Division officers engaged VicPD’s Community Engagement Division (CED) who posted a description and photograph of the stroller to the Esquimalt Division Facebook page on March 20. ​

The stroller was reunited with its family later that same day. ​

Traffic Safety & Enforcement – speed reader board deployed.

In terms of community engagement this quarter:​

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 February 22, 2023 – Pink Shirt Day​

Insp. Brown attended a Pink Shirt Day event at the Town Square with other community leaders including Mayor Desjardins and members of the Esquimalt Fire Department.​

Ongoing, 2023 – Rainbow Kitchen Engagement​

 Esquimalt Division members continue to engage with the Rainbow Kitchen weekly.  Cst. Renaud participates in food preparation for the ‘Meals on Wheels’ Program and Cst. Fuller continues to assist staff with ‘de-escalation’ and safety advice.​

Ongoing, 2023 – Project “Business Connect”​

Sgt. Hollingsworth and Cst. Fuller continue to support our local business community through “Project Connect.” They attend various businesses in the Township on a routine basis to engage business owners and staff. This is an ongoing effort to build relationships with the business community and provide crime prevention suggestions.​

Spring Break 2023 – Greater Victoria High School Police Camp​

 

The Greater Victoria Police Agencies hosted a ‘Police Camp’ for 46 local high school students.  The week-long camp at Esquimalt’s Work Point Barracks saw the students participate in leadership and teamwork activities in the context of our local policing community.​

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And finally, we launched Meet Your VicPD. These social media posts introduce officers, civilian staff and volunteers to the community we serve. Each profile shares a bit about the profiled person’s life, highlights their unique attributes and helps our the connections between our people and our communities grow a little bit closer. We look forward to sharing more profiles of the staff in Esquimalt Division.

And finally, we launched Meet Your VicPD. These social media posts introduce officers, civilian staff and volunteers to the community we serve. Each profile shares a bit about the profiled person’s life, highlights their unique attributes and helps our the connections between our people and our communities grow a little bit closer. We look forward to sharing more profiles of the staff in Esquimalt Division.

Current focus

Our current focus is to continue deploying the speed reader boards in strategic areas around the Township, responding to local safety concerns, and supporting our schools in their year-end lockdown drills and safety plans.

In Q1, we acknowledged the police service and retirement of Cst. Greg Shaw. A police officer for 30 years, Greg concluded his career serving the Township as a Community Resource Officer in Esquimalt. We wish him and his family all the best!

At the end of the first quarter we are 1.8 per cent over the budget approved by councils, driven in part by non-controllable expenditures subject to budget cuts such as professional services, building maintenance and retirement expenditures. Additionally, expenditures are over budget for protective clothing and training, but under in equipment, communications and general operating expenditures. Wages and overtime are within budget as we prioritize resourcing of the front line and implement a pilot project to streamline our operational resources.