Victoria Police Department facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Victoria Police Department
VicPD Heraldic badge
Past style ID badge of VicPD
Abbreviation	VicPD
Motto	Honour through Service
Agency overview
Formed	July 1858
Employees	349
Volunteers	78
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Esquimalt, Victoria, Canada
Governing body	Victoria Police Board
Constituting instrument	BC Police Act
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	850 Caledonia Avenue
Police constables	243
Civilians	106
Elected officers responsible	The Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia Her Worship Marianne Alto, Mayor & Chair of the Victoria Police Board
Agency executive	Del Manak, chief constable
Facilities
Stations	2 850 Caledonia Ave 500 Park Place

The Victoria Police Department (VicPD) is the police force for the cities of Victoria and Esquimalt in British Columbia, Canada. It is the oldest city police department in Western Canada.

VicPD was the first Canadian police group to use tasers. They also created the country's first digital forensic unit. This unit helps solve crimes using digital clues. VicPD is also one of the few police departments in Canada that uses the G36 rifle.

Chief Del Manak leads VicPD. He became chief on June 13, 2017.

History of Policing in Victoria

Early Days of Law Enforcement

Before VicPD, policing on Vancouver Island was done by the Victoria Voltigeurs. This was an armed group that helped when needed. In 1854, a single town constable named Thomas Hall looked after the early town.

On July 8, 1858, Governor James Douglas of Vancouver Island started a police force. He named Augustus Pemberton as the police commissioner. This happened before Victoria officially became a city in 1862.

Shoulder flash prior to June 2010

In April 1858, ten men from San Francisco arrived to form this first police force. They wore blue uniforms with tall hats and red sashes. This group faced challenges and was later changed. By the mid-1870s, the City of Victoria took full control of the police department.

Honoring Fallen Officers

The VicPD remembers five officers who died while serving the community. The first officer, Constable Johnston Cochrane, died in 1859. This was the first known death of a law enforcement officer in British Columbia. The most recent death was Constable Earle Doyle in 1959, who died in a motorcycle accident.

VicPD has a special memorial at their headquarters. It lists the names of all five officers.

How VicPD Works

Police Stations and Areas

VicPD is a medium-sized police agency. It has two main stations:

• Main Headquarters Building in Victoria at 850 Caledonia Avenue.
• West Division in Esquimalt, which is shared with the Esquimalt Fire Department.

Police officers patrol many neighbourhoods in both Victoria and Esquimalt. These areas include:

• Esquimalt: Panhandle, Selkirk, Colville, Parklands, Rockheights, Devonshire, West Bay, Esquimalt Village, Saxe Point.
• Victoria: Burnside, Hillside/Quadra, North Park, Oaklands, Victoria West, Downtown, Harris Green, Fernwood, North Jubilee, Rockland, James Bay, Fairfield, Gonzales.

Past Headquarters

Over the years, VicPD has been based in several different places:

• Fort Victoria
• Victoria Voltigeurs Encampment
• Bastion Square Gaol (from 1860s to 1880s)
• Victoria City Hall (from 1880s to 1918)
• Fisgard Street (from 1918 to 1996)

VicPD Organization

Who Leads VicPD

Chief Constable Del Manak leads the Victoria Police Department. There are 241 sworn police officers working for VicPD.

Different Police Teams

VicPD has many different teams and units that help keep the community safe:

• Patrol: These officers are usually the first to respond to calls.
  • Focused Enforcement Team (FET): This team includes:
    • Bike squad: Officers who patrol on bicycles.
    • Beat officers: Officers who patrol specific areas on foot.
    • Traffic section: Helps with traffic safety and investigates accidents.
    • Community resource officers: Work with the community to solve problems.
• Investigative Services: These teams investigate crimes.
  • • Major crimes: Handles serious cases.
    • Financial crimes: Investigates crimes involving money.
    • Special victims unit: Helps people in difficult situations.
    • Forensic services: Uses science to solve crimes.
      • Forensic identification (IDENT): Collects and analyzes evidence.
      • Computer forensics: Looks for clues on computers and other digital devices.
• Crime Prevention and Public Affairs:
  • • Public affairs: Shares information with the public.
    • Block Watch: Helps neighbours work together to prevent crime.
    • Volunteer services: Manages volunteers who help the police.
• Other Important Units:
  • 911 communication centre: Answers emergency calls.
  • Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT): A special team for dangerous situations.
  • Strike force and street crime: Works to stop street-level crime.
  • K-9 units: Police officers with specially trained dogs.

VicPD also has "reserve constables," who are volunteers who help the police.

Police Ranks

Police officers have different ranks, like in the military. Each rank has its own responsibilities.

Rank	Chief of police/chief constable	Deputy chief/deputy chief constable	Superintendent	Inspector	Staff sergeant
Insignia
Rank	Sergeant	Police constable 1st class/detective	Police constable 2nd class	Police constable 3rd class	Police constable 4th class (includes recruit constables)
Insignia

Integrated Road Safety Unit (IRSU)

Four VicPD officers are part of a special team called the Integrated Road Safety Unit (IRSU). This team has 15 members from different police departments.

The IRSU's job is to make roads safer. They focus on stopping dangerous driving, like distracted driving or not wearing seatbelts. They work with police from Saanich, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, and the RCMP.

VicPD Hall of Honour

In 2014, the police museum at the Victoria police station closed. Many historical items were moved into storage. In its place, the VicPD Hall of Honour was created.

The Hall of Honour celebrates the achievements of police officers and civilian staff. It opened to the public on September 29, 2015.

VicPD in Books

Author Stanley Evans, who lives in Victoria, has written mystery books. These books feature a character named Silas Seaweed, who is an investigator with the Victoria Police Department.

See also

• Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia