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.

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

Traffic Safety & Enforcement – speed reader board deployed.

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. 

In terms of community engagement this quarter:

 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.

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.