Stephen Harrison
LightNews LightNews
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Stephen Harrison
@stephenharrison.bsky.social
450 followers 160 following 770 posts
Victoria, B.C. needsmorespikes.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD talked on their podcast about how they may involve themselves in the 2026 municipal elections, just like they did last time. Police in politics in #yyj! I left in the lead-in from 2022 where they complained about Isitt comparing the library budget to theirs. open.spotify.com/episode/2xyy...
Todd Mason, 17m 00s: But we got to remember the last few years, first of all, as I can remember, the budget that's been given to us has just been to keep the lights on. That's what they've had to pare it down to, is okay, this is the budget to keep the lights on. And that's the budget we've gotten. So we haven’t had the money to update the fleet, hire officers above attrition, all that sort of stuff. Angela van Eerd, VicPD union president: We're playing catch up. Mason: We are playing catch up. Van Eerd: We are playing massive catch up. Mason: A decade long. Tom Stamatakis, Jr., VicPD union executive board member and media spokesperson: Massive catch up. Mason: So that's why this next election is so huge. If you value public safety and value officers who are not burning out all the time, then you got to get out and vote for people who support public safety. It's as simple as that. … Stamatakis, Jr., 18m 50s: So in terms of the municipal elections, last municipal elections in 2022, we actually were, the union was quite progressive and we conducted a symposium, an online virtual symposium where we invited all the new city councillor electorates to come online. And we had two because there was a lot of candidates. I can't remember how many, but there was like, I think there was like 20 or something like that. And so basically asked each councillor what their views on public safety and specific questions surrounding safety in the City of Victoria, just to give voters the opportunity to see exactly what each person, what their thoughts were and how they were going to progress. We actually got a lot of props from our partners from across Canada. And yeah, we're still debating if we're going to do it again this upcoming year. … And so, yeah, we’ll see what’s going to come with that. Transcript from True Blue Podcast, “VCPU director at large Tom Stamatakis” (02/25/22) Stamatakis, Jr., 26m 00s: I, I think it's just the pivotal road that we need to take in order to get our messaging out. Whether that be social media, um, these podcasts or generally for us to reach out and have people understand the challenges. And not only that, but to also reach out to the demographic of people that maybe, um, haven't heard our voices before. And that is also in an effort to get people out there to vote when it comes time for municipal elections. … Stamatakis, Jr., 27m 00s: I think we, as our union, and the way I would like to move forward in terms of marketing and in media is, is getting out there more so that people understand. … Transcript from True Blue Podcast, “VCPU director at large Tom Stamatakis” (02/25/22) Stamatakis, Jr., 30m 32s: … Ben Isitt comes out with this ideological comment. He's like, “Wouldn't it be great to live in a world where the city librarians get the police budget and the police have to work within the library budget?” And I'm like looking around like what the fuck you know, like what world, that's not even comparing apples and oranges, that's like comparing apples with like this chair. … Matt Waterman: But that, and I agree with you that that's, we're doing it here and I know it's been kind of talked about and from a marketing standpoint or public relations standpoint, is we wanna do it as the, as the next municipal election rolls around, we wanna be out there letting people know that, hey, we're tired of this rhetoric. Garbage rhetoric. Uh, and we want some action. And, and, but the important part is, you're right. We've talked about it. We need to, we need to reach out to the voter that's gonna make a difference. Cause guys who call up in the radio station and say the same thing that live in Central Saanich, it doesn't affect, uh, the outcome of an election. You know, they're not a voter. So, uh, we've talked about it. It's, it's a challenge to get those people out, but, uh, I'm hopeful that we can help influence people. Stamatakis, Jr.: Yeah. So in preparation for that, I think we're, we're structuring in terms of the committee that we have for marketing in just having a structure to see how we roll it out. And plan it out. Um, what's gonna be different avenues that we can reach out to the most amount of people and, and just get more and more people involved. I mean, municipal politics have never been a huge turnout, but I think, yeah, the things that have happened in Victoria recently, it's a pretty hot topic and uh, our hope is that more and more people get out there that will support public safety.
January 14, 2026 at 5:50 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Went back further. An officer looked up their tenant. Another looked up a contractor. One officer "had a habit of running names of friends and relatives." Another looked up their ex 20 times. All told that's about 50 officers with substantiated complaints of misusing police databases. But why audit?
B.C. police database misuse, substantiated complaints 2016: Vancouver PD officer “searched police databases for a purpose unrelated to duties as a police officer” and “improperly disclosed confidential information acquired from police databases to a member of the public” 2016: Transit Police officer “used the PRIME database system, without permission, to gather statistics for their master’s degree course” 2015: Transit Police officer “queried their tenant using police databases” 2015: New Westminster PD officer “used police databases to query one of [their] contractors and the licence plate of a vehicle being used by the contractors” and “disclosed [to a member of the property management company] that a vehicle being driven by one of the contractors was uninsured and that one of the contractors had a criminal record” 2015: Delta PD, three officers “conducted improper police database queries in relation to an off duty police officer’s call for assistance” and “improperly disclosed the information obtained” 2015: Abbotsford PD officer “accessed police databases for purposes unrelated to his/her duties as a police officer.” 2014: Delta PD officer “queried police databases by means of a mobile data terminal for a purpose unrelated to the performance of the officer’s duties” 2014: Delta PD officer “accessed the PRIME database for personal reasons” B.C. police database misuse, substantiated complaints 2013: Vancouver PD officer “accessed police databases for a purpose unrelated to his duties as a police officer” 2013: New Westminster PD officer “conducted unauthorized searches utilizing police databases for purposes unrelated to his duties as a police officer” and “shared the information with a person not entitled to receive or access this information” 2012: Vancouver PD officer “conducted unauthorized searches utilizing police databases for purposes unrelated to his duties as a police officer” 2012: Saanich PD officer “queried police databases for purposes unrelated to his duties as a police officer and disclosed that information” 2012-14: Abbotsford PD officer “searched police databases for a purpose unrelated to his duties and accessed reports he was not authorized to access” 2011: Vancouver PD officer “had a habit of running names of friends and relatives,” “accessed police databases on three occasions for purposes unrelated to the duties of a police officer” and “disclosed information that the officer acquired from police databases to a member of the public” 2011: Saanich PD officer “made unauthorized queries on police databases” B.C. police database misuse, substantiated complaints 2011: Saanich PD officer “accessed police databases to query associates of his estranged wife for purposes unrelated to the performance of his duties as a police officer” and “disclosed to his estranged wife confidential information he had obtained from the queries” 2011: Delta PD officer “conducted queries on the PRIME database for purposes unrelated to his duties as a police officer” 2010: VPD officer “accessed police databases to conduct personal queries unrelated to his duties as a police officer” 2010: Transit Police officer “conducted an unauthorized search on police databases for purposes unrelated to his duties as a police officer” 2010: Delta PD officer “On several occasions … conducted unauthorized queries on PRIME” and “counseled another member to also conduct an unauthorized search on the police database” 2010: Delta PD officer “conducted an unauthorized query on a police database” 2010: An officer “accessed police databases to query the complainant’s common-law wife’s name” and “accessed police databases to query the complainant’s name” B.C. police database misuse, substantiated complaints 2009: VPD officer found to have conducted “Unauthorized search of police database” 2009: VPD officer found to have conducted “Unauthorized search of police database” 2009: Saanich PD officer “On 12 separate occasions … conducted unauthorized searches in a police database” 2009: Abbotsford PD officer “conducted an unauthorized search of an individual on police databases and disclosed this information to a third party” 2008: VicPD officer “for purposes unrelated to his duties as a police officer, conducted queries on police databases” 2008: New Westminster PD officer conducted an “Unauthorized Search of Police Databases (Info not disclosed)” 2008: New Westminster PD officer conducted an “Unauthorized Search of Police Databases (Info not disclosed)” 2007: An officer conducted “20 unauthorized police database queries over a 4 year period … related to the officer’s ex‐spouse” 1995-2008: An officer “queried an employee from his private business on the police database PRIME” and “made numerous queries using CPIC (Canadian Police Information Centre) and PRIME for non‐work related purposes”
December 19, 2025 at 6:14 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Here are excerpts from OPCC reports of BC officers caught misusing police databases. They looked up family members and exes, a woman an officer "was interested in," a nurse, and a convocation speaker. Some officers used databases for a "business venture." But VicPD doesn't audit database use. (2/2)
B.C. police database misuse, substantiated complaints 2023: Port Moody PD officer “requested a colleague to query a particular license plate on a police database without disclosing the query was for a personal reason” 2023: Abbotsford PD officer “used police databases to query a university convocation guest speaker who had made remarks about a police incident that the speaker had been involved in” 2023: Abbotsford PD officer “queried their spouse for reasons unrelated to the performance of the member’s duties” 2022: VPD officer “used a police database to query the license plate of a driver that had been involved in a traffic altercation with the member’s spouse” 2021: VPD officer “queried the name of the VCH nurse on a police database for a purpose unrelated to the member’s duties” 2021: Saanich PD officer “used police databases to run checks on his former partner and members of her family” 2020: VPD special municipal constable “queried a person on a police database for reasons unrelated to [their] duties” 2020: VPD officer “conduct[ed] a query using police database for information unrelated to an investigation or duties as a police officer” 2019: VPD officer “used a police database to query the residence of a relative who was under criminal investigation” 2019: VPD officer “queried [a] complainant’s name using a police database for reasons not associated with their duties as a police officer” B.C. police database misuse, substantiated complaints 2019: Port Moody PD officer “Unauthorized use of CPIC for a personal matter” 2018: Transit Police officer “Using police equipment and databases to search for information and details unrelated to his duties as a police officer, but in relation to the private security detail he was working on” 2017: West Vancouver PD officer “used police databases (CPIC and PRIME) to query this female friend” and “queried a female he was interested in using police databases (CPIC and PRIME)” 2017: VPD officer “Conducted a CPIC and/or PRIME search of a member of the public for a purpose unrelated to his duties as a police officer,” “Improperly disclosed confidential information to a member of the public that he acquired from a CPIC and/or PRIME search,” and “Conducted a CPIC and/or PRIME search of a family member for a purpose unrelated to his duties as a police officer” 2016-18: Transit Police, two officers “used police databases to further their own personal business venture and stood to benefit from the unauthorized use of police databases and the information retrieved” 2016-17: Abbotsford PD officer “accessed a police database for non-duty related reasons and made inquiries with respect to his estranged spouse” 2011-18: Delta PD officer “used a police database (PRIME) to conduct a query of an extended family member” and “admitted to additional PRIME queries of the extended family members”
December 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Stories about officers misusing police databases to look people up who they shouldn't are incredibly common. And yet, when I asked VicPD for copies of any audits they'd done to look for unauthorized database use, they said "no audits have been conducted" over the six-year period I asked about. (1/2)
RE: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the Act) VicPD FOI No. 2023-1334 I am responding to your correspondence received by this department on June 26, 2023, requesting “Copies of any audits of PRIME usage (e.g. reports on reviewing for unauthorized queries or browsing, or any other audits conducted) 2017 to present.”. Please be advised that there were no records responsive to you request. Please note that no audits have been conducted of PRIME usage. If believe that the Victoria Police Department is in possession of the record you seek, please contact me with more information.
December 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD says no live stream of the police board tonight due to technical difficulties. They say they'll post a recording, but the last time this happened, they didn't. We'll see if it does get posted, and how timely it is if so. If it does ever go up, at least I can watch it back at double speed.
Screenshot of tweet from @vicpdcanada. Text reads: Due to unforeseen technical difficulties, we are unable to live stream tonight’s board meeting as planned. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. The meeting will proceed in person, and minutes/recordings will be made available afterward. Thank you for your patience! #YYJ #communityupdate
December 17, 2025 at 1:09 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
There’s a #yyj police board meeting at 5:00 pm today. Will try to follow along here. Not much to post about beforehand, as they’ve stopped posting detailed agendas with attachments. Public agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard 🧵
VICTORIA & ESQUIMALT POLICE BOARD Public Meeting Agenda Dec 16, 2025 at 5:00pm Boardroom & Zoom 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT a. Territorial Acknowledgement 2. STANDING ITEMS a. Declarations of Conflict of Interest b. Adoption of the Public Agenda of December 16, 2025 c. Adoption of the Public Minutes of November 18, 2025 d. Board Chair Update e. Committees Update f. Board Member Engagement Update g. BC Association of Police Boards (BCAPB) and Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG) Update - Chair Hayes h. Chief Constable Update i. Deputy Chief Constables Update 3. CORRESPONDENCE (Information Only) a. 251112 Letter of Support from Victoria Mayor re Island JI Pg. 6 b. 251212 Order in Council re VEPB Director Reappointments Pg. 8 c. 251208 Letter from Public re Police Presence at Christmas Parade – for discussion.
December 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD officers might have made even more in OT, too. According to VicPD’s budget documents, it paid out $5.1M in OT in 2022, jumping to $6.4M in 2024, but the payouts in the FOI data fall well short of that. I’ve asked them to clarify, but I haven’t received an answer yet. I’ll update if I do.
Line graph of “VicPD OT payouts disclosed vs. actual OT costs.” Separate lines show that in 2022, OT payouts disclosed via FOI vs. Actual OT costs were $4.7 million vs. $5.1 million, respectively; in 2023: $4.2 million vs. $4.8 million; and in 2024, $5.1 million vs. $6.4 million.
December 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Last year, VicPD’s top OT earners were a fifth-year constable who took home $93,000 in OT; a first-year sergeant who made $83,000 in OT; and a 15-year constable who made $82,000 in OT. And in 2022, one 20-year constable made $101,000 in overtime, while a 10-year constable took home $108,000.
Bar graph of “Top three VicPD OT payouts.” In 2022: $108,000, $101,000, $83,000. 2023: $73,000, $67,000, $64,000. 2024: $93,000, $83,000, $82,000.
December 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
I was reminded of this old report where the OPCC noted 13 substantiated allegations of misconduct for whatever this SLO was doing in 1999 that constituted "inappropriate conduct during school events." There are even fewer details in these old reports, including that the department wasn't disclosed.
OPCC029 Discreditable Conduct Closed: July 26, 1999 A school principal complained about the conduct of a school liaison officer after receiving reports of inappropriate conduct during school events. The complainant listed thirteen allegations, all of which were substantiated by the investigator. The constable was removed from school liaison duties and received disciplinary measures. The chief constable gave the constable a written reprimand. The factors considered by the chief constable included: The constable was a school liaison officer interacting with young students at the time of the incidents and the impact of the constable's conduct on the students; The constable voluntarily requested a transfer from the school liaison department; The constable's acknowledgement that he had exercised poor judgement; and The constable had no previous disciplinary record. OPCC029 Discreditable Conduct Closed: July 26, 1999 A school principal complained about the conduct of a school liaison officer after receiving reports of inappropriate conduct during school events. The complainant listed thirteen allegations, all of which were substantiated by the investigator. The constable was removed from school liaison duties and received disciplinary measures. The chief constable gave the constable a written reprimand. The factors considered by the chief constable included: The constable was a school liaison officer interacting with young students at the time of the incidents and the impact of the constable's conduct on the students; The constable voluntarily requested a transfer from the school liaison department; The constable's acknowledgement that he had exercised poor judgement; and The constable had no previous disciplinary record.
November 19, 2025 at 6:35 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
A VicPD officer got a verbal reprimand for slamming someone's head into the ground after they were in handcuffs. I did some reporting on VicPD's use of force on people in handcuffs here. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/use-of-... VicPD is trying to suppress releasing future use of force datasets. #yyj
Ordered Investigation - Requested by Department OPCC 2024-25233 Upon request from the Victoria Police Department (VicPD), the Commissioner ordered an investigation into the conduct of a VicPD member. It was reported that after an affected person had been arrested and placed in handcuffs on the ground, the member used force and struck the affected person’s head against the ground. Allegation 1 The member intentionally or recklessly used unnecessary force on the affected person in the performance of their duties. DISCIPLINARY/CORRECTIVE MEASURE Verbal reprimand Disciplinary Process – Prehearing Conference At the conclusion of the investigation, the Discipline Authority found that the member appeared to have committed misconduct. The Discipline Authority determined that that force used was unreasonable and disproportionate in the circumstances. A prehearing conference was offered and accepted. The Prehearing Conference Authority classified the misconduct as moderate, but noted the member expressed remorse and regret for their inappropriate actions. The OPCC reviewed the proposed disciplinary/corrective measures and determined that further review was not required and the discipline imposed was appropriate in the circumstances.
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Here we learn that the VicPD officer who decided to do a PIT maneuver on someone on their e-bike, dislocating his shoulder and putting him in hospital, was suspended for one day. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/police-... #yyj
Victoria Police Department Ordered Investigation – Initiated by PCC OPCC 2023-23143 After receiving information from the Victoria Police Department (VicPD), the Commissioner initiated an investigation into a member who utilized a police vehicle to stop an individual who was riding an electric cycle. According to information received from the department, the driver of the electric cycle was observed committing a Motor Vehicle Act offence. The member attempted to initiate a traffic stop and used their police vehicle to make contact with the rear wheel of the individual’s cycle. Allegation 1 The member inappropriately used a police vehicle as an intermediate force option. DISCIPLINARY/CORRECTIVE MEASURE 1-day suspension Disciplinary Process – Prehearing Conference At the conclusion of the investigation, the Discipline Authority found that the member appeared to have committed misconduct. A prehearing conference was offered and accepted. The Prehearing Conference Authority noted that while the member was in the lawful execution of their duties, the decision to use a police vehicle as an intermediate force option to take an individual into custody was not justified. The Prehearing Conference Authority also noted that the member’s neglect of duty was at the lower end of misconduct, as they had neglected administrative aspects of their reporting but had recorded their use of force and been fulsome in describing their actions. The OPCC reviewed the proposed disciplinary/corrective measures and determined that further review was not required and the discipline imposed was appropriate in the circumstances.
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Will pick up posting at 5:00. For a bad read, the OPCC's annual report of substantiated complaints is up. Here a Vancouver officer gave a presentation at a school, then entered an "inappropriate" and "abusive" relationship with a student post-graduation. Cops in schools. opcc.bc.ca/wp-content/u...
Ordered Investigation – Requested by Department OPCC 2023-23290 Upon request from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the Commissioner ordered an investigation into the conduct of a VPD member. It was reported that the member attended a high school to provide a presentation on policing, following which the member exchanged emails with a female student regarding a career in policing. After the student had graduated high school, the two became engaged in an intimate relationship. The investigation showed that the member had lied to the female about their age and was verbally and emotionally abusive towards her. Allegation 1 The member developed an inappropriate relationship with the female which included the member’s behaviour towards the female during their relationship. Disciplinary/corrective measure: Dismissal Disciplinary Process – Discipline Proceeding At the conclusion of the investigation, the Discipline Authority found that the member appeared to have committed misconduct. No prehearing conference was offered and as a result, the matter proceeded to a discipline proceeding where the member admitted the allegation. The member resigned from the VPD before the conclusion of the discipline proceeding. In arriving at the appropriate disciplinary or corrective measures, the Discipline Authority noted the seriousness of the misconduct, that the member was in a clear position of trust, influence, and authority and would have significant influence over the female’s career aspirations. The Discipline Authority also noted the abusive and demeaning behaviour was shown to be sustained throughout the relationship rather than limited to a single outburst, and that the member kept the relationship hidden, indicating he understood the relationship was inappropriate. The member did not request a review of the disciplinary decision. The OPCC reviewed these findings and determined that further review was not required and that the discipline imposed was appropriate in the cir…
November 19, 2025 at 12:45 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
I will note that the police board wants Victoria and Esquimalt to give the board itself $359,000 next year, including $100,000 for “strategic planning” that they barely try to justify, and a $259,000 base budget that itself will have gone up $156,000 in three years unless councillors intervene.
Line graph titled VicPD police board budget vs. inflation. Orange line showing inflation appears to hold mostly steady, going from $100,000 in 2023 to $117,000 in 2026. The police board budget goes from $103,000 in 2023 to $157,000 in 2024, to $203,000 in 2025, to $359,000 in 2026.
November 19, 2025 at 12:45 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Victoria council will be asking VicPD questions about its draft $90 million budget on Thursday. Before today’s public meeting, Wilson led a “2026 budget discussion” with the police board.
VICTORIA & ESQUIMALT POLICE BOARD In-Camera Meeting Agenda November 18, 2025 at 3:00pm Boardroom & Zoom 1. AGENDA a. Adoption of the In-Camera Agenda of November 18, 2025 s. 69(2a,b,c,d) 2. STANDING ITEMS a. Declarations of Conflict of Interest Pg. 1 b. Adoption of the In-Camera Minutes of October 21, 2025 s. 69(2,a,b,c,d) c. Board Chair Update s. 69(2,a,b,c,d) d. Committees Update s. 69(2,a,b,c,d) e. Chief Constable Update s. 69(2,a,b,c,d) f. Deputy Chief Constables Update s. 69(2,a,b,c,d) 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Service or Policy Update (Insp. Brown) s. 69(2,d) b. 2026 Budget Discussion (CC. Wilson) s. 69 (2,d) 4. RISE & REPORT (when applicable)
November 19, 2025 at 12:45 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
There’s a #yyj police board meeting at 5:00 pm. Will follow along here. It’s the first time VicPD met the legal requirement to post the agenda a week in advance. Maybe the trade-off was “put nothing in there.” Agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard 🧵
VICTORIA & ESQUIMALT POLICE BOARD Public Meeting Agenda Nov 18, 2025 at 5:00pm Boardroom & Zoom 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT a. Territorial Acknowledgement 2. STANDING ITEMS a. Declarations of Conflict of Interest b. Adoption of the Public Agenda of November 18, 2025 Pg. 1 c. Adoption of the Public Minutes of October 21, 2025 d. Board Chair Update e. Committees Update f. Board Member Engagement Update g. BC Association of Police Boards (BCAPB) and Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG) Update - Chair Hayes h. Chief Constable Update i. Deputy Chief Constables Update 3. NEW BUSINESS 4. CORRESPONDENCE (Information Only) a. Letter from Township of Esquimalt to the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General re Support for VicPD’s proposal to establish Satellite JI Program 5. RISE & REPORT (when applicable)
November 19, 2025 at 12:45 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
When VicPD lost some 2023 budget items on appeal, the province said they "did not provide sufficient evidence to support the need." Here VicPD provided incorrect evidence to Esquimalt but says the correct number, down 89% from what they said, is evidence enough. cheknews.ca/vicpd-chief-... #yyj
VicPD not altering its budget request When asked if her error might mean she’d alter her ask since there hasn’t been the 280 per cent spike in crashes Wilson based her funding request on, the chief said no. “Given the 32 per cent increase it’s still my position that we need these resources and we really need them critically,” said Wilson.
November 14, 2025 at 4:55 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD wants another $11 million in 2026. That could pay for all the city's proposed cuts. Or for housing. Victoria councillors will be talking about the police budget on November 20th. Tell them you don't want 25 more police officers and $90 million spent on police!
VicPD wants a 14%, $11M budget increase. The city already spends a quarter of its funding on police. VicPD has the third-most officers per capita in the country, but they’re demanding 25 more in 2026. VicPD’s proposed 2026 budget increase could pay for: All the proposed cuts to city services (and more), Annual rent for 449 1-bedroom apartments, or Literally anything other than policing mental health and poverty. To oppose another massive annual increase in police spending, email councillors@victoria.ca or council@esquimalt.ca Sources: Statistics Canada, "Police personnel and selected crime statistics, municipal police services," 2023. Areas with population over 100,000. Rentals.ca, "National Rent Report," October 2025.
November 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Here we can see VicPD has more officers per capita than 82% of U.S. police departments, for cities with over 100,000 people. 100,000 people is a cut-off Statistics Canada uses when reporting on police data, so I've replicated that here for comparison.
Yellow background with black font. VicPD has more officers per capita than 82% of U.S. police departments. More than: [List of hundreds of U.S. jurisdictions] Sources: Statistics Canada, "Police personnel and selected crime statistics, municipal police services," 2023. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Employees Data, 2023. Cities with population over 100,000.
November 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD already has the third-most officers per capita in the country, but they're trying to make the city hire 25 more. They also want $10,000 per new hire to buy new police cars. The average VicPD officer made $156,000 in 2024.
Yellow text with black font. VicPD has the third most officers per capita in the country, after Thunder Bay and Montreal. VicPD has more officers per capita than: Abbotsford, Barrie, Brantford, Burnaby, Calgary, Chatham-Kent, Chilliwack, Codiac Regional, Coquitlam, Delta, Durham Region (Oshawa/Whitby/Ajax), Edmonton, Gatineau, Greater Sudbury, Guelph, Halifax, Halton Region (Oakville/Burlington), Hamilton, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kingston, Langley City, Laval, Lethbridge Region, Lévis, London, Longueuil, Nanaimo, Niagara Region (St. Catharines), Ottawa, Peel Region (Mississauga/Brampton), Peterborough-Lakefield, Québec, Red Deer, Regina, Richelieu Saint-Laurent, Richmond, Roussillon Region, Saanich, Saguenay, Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saskatoon, Sherbrooke, St. John's, Surrey, Terrebonne, Toronto, Trois-Rivières, Vancouver, Waterloo Region (Kitchener), Windsor, Winnipeg, and York Region (Markham/Vaughn). VicPD wants the city to pay for 25 more officers in 2026. The average VicPD officer made $156,000 in 2024. Sources: Statistics Canada, "Police personnel and selected crime statistics, municipal police services," 2023. Areas with population over 100,000. Victoria Police Department, "Statement of Employee Remuneration and Expenses Paid - 2024."
November 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Here's a thread with an annual reminder that VicPD is overfunded and overstaffed. VicPD likes to say it's a special exception as a "downtown" police force, but they cost more per capita than every other department in B.C., including Vancouver. #yyj 🧵
Yellow background with black font. VicPD is the most expensive police department per capita in B.C. VicPD costs more per capita than any of B.C.’s other 11 municipal police departments or 67 RCMP municipal units. VicPD wants to push that cost even higher in 2026, to $750 per person. VicPD already costs more per capita than the police departments in: Abbotsford, Armstrong, Burnaby, Campbell River, Castlegar, Central Saanich, Chilliwack, Coldstream, Colwood, Comox, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Creston, Dawson Creek, Delta, Duncan, Fernie, Fort St. John, Hope, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kent, Kimberley, Kitimat, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Langford, Langley City, Langley Township, Maple Ridge, Merritt, Metchosin, Mission, Nanaimo, Nelson City, New Westminster, North Cowichan, North Saanich, North Vancouver (City), North Vancouver (District), Oak Bay, Oliver, Osoyoos, Parksville, Peachland, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Qualicum Beach, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Saanich, Salmon Arm, Sechelt, Sidney, Smithers, Sooke, Spallumcheen, Squamish, Summerland, Surrey, Terrace, Trail, Vancouver, Vernon, View Royal, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake Sources: Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, "Police Resources in British Columbia, 2023." BC Stats, "Population Estimates & Projections for British Columbia."
November 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
The idea that nobody has ever suggested specific police budget items to cut is also insulting. It's 1) not true; and 2) if councillors are worried about runaway policing costs, they too can find items to reject within that $90 million. Perhaps they could even use city resources to help.
Bluesky post from Jeremy Caradonna. Director of Police Services under Section 27 of the Act. That senior civil servant then makes a ruling and either forces the city to adopt the line item, or deems it not necessary. In my experience, the Director rules in favour of the Board 85-90% of the time, but not always. Email from myself to councillors including Jeremy Caradonna, outlining several suggested VicPD budget items to look at for cuts for the 2025 VicPD budget. Dated December 15, 2024.
November 8, 2025 at 4:55 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
This is a frustrating narrative advanced by some councillors. Under the current council's term, Victoria and Esquimalt axed $902,000 from VicPD's 2023 budget, a 45% success rate that year. Pretty good! The province found VicPD couldn't justify those costs. But it meant councillors had to try. #yyj
Table showing councils rejected about $2M from VicPD's 2023 budget and won $902,000 at appeal, a 45% success rate. Appeals for the 2025 budget are still outstanding.
November 8, 2025 at 4:55 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Yesterday's Last Week Tonight speaking to my interest in dead former premiers.
Screencap from Last Week Tonight. John Oliver is on the right. On the left is a screenshot from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, dated 2005, about John Oliver. Excerpted text below reads "premier of British Columbia." Photo of the grave of Premier John Oliver, a rectangular stone marker. Text reads: In loving memory of Hon(est) John Oliver. Premier of B.C. March 6 1918 to August 17 1927. Born July 31, 1856, died August 17, 1927. His body sleeps in fitting place as kinsman of the flower and sod. His soul in heaven's abounding grace rests in the bosom of his God. Elizabeth Oliver born August 2, 1859, died August 31, 1952. The Lord will guide thee continually. Text on the front side of the marker reads "Oliver."
November 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD spent $13,750 on the venue, including catering, and $4,097 in staffing costs, trucking in officers "beyond their regularly scheduled duties" and paying them OT. They also shuttled their people to the event, and spent money to stream it, even though they don't stream their own budget meetings.
Videographer Services Townley Visual Media $1968.75 Performance Services Honorarium x 2 $600.00 Shuttle VicPD – Gov’t House Wilson’s Transportation Ltd. $1331.79 Program Printing Metropol Industries Inc. $266.82 Venue Government House $13750.00 Staffing Victoria Police Department $4097.36 Total $22014.72
October 29, 2025 at 2:43 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
I think that's the MLA pin (become an MLA, get a pin, people in the legislature know you're an MLA… something like that). Here are two others with it (picked at random from www.leg.bc.ca/members although they're not all wearing it) lims.leg.bc.ca/public/image... lims.leg.bc.ca/public/image...
October 25, 2025 at 4:20 AM