Esquimalt votes to end police agreement with Victoria
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The Township of Esquimalt is looking to exit its agreement with Victoria and the Victoria Police Department, which sees the two communities sharing an amalgamated police force. Esquimalt and Victoria are currently under a 10-year agreement, which is up for renewal the end of this year. On Tuesday, Esquimalt announced it will not renew the agreement and will instead pursue a new policing model.
Esquimalt and Victoria are currently under a 10-year agreement, which is up for renewal the end of this year.
On Tuesday, Esquimalt announced it will not renew the agreement and will instead pursue a new policing model.
"We did not make this decision lightly," said Mayor Barbara Desjardins in a statement Tuesday. "However this is not a sudden or new problem – Esquimalt has been burdened by this model for many years."
Earlier this year, Esquimalt decided not to approve a budget request from VicPD, saying that the municipality already paid more than it needed for policing.
Desjardins said at the time that Esquimalt was on the hook for things like overtime pay for protests or events in Victoria.
"We just don't feel that Esquimalt should have to pay for those extras because we're the only department amalgamated with Victoria," she said at the time.
On Tuesday, Victoria Police Chief Del Manak said he was "disappointed" by Esquimalt council's decision.
