Royal Canadian Mounted Police / Gendarmerie royale du Canada

Language selection

Search

B.C. RCMP

Lights, Camera, Action! - Video archives

The West Shore RCMP provides policing services to 7 unique communities. Our officers are highly trained and passionate individuals. These videos highlight our officers policing expertise as well as their diverse backgrounds. We hope these videos give you insight to who we are, and what we do here at the West Shore RCMP. Thanks for watching!

Table of Contents

West Shore RCMP celebrates World Electric Vehicle Day

September 9 is World Electric Vehicle Day. Here is a look at the Tesla Model Y which has been outfitted for Frontline Policing here in the West Shore.

Transcript

[Video starts with the Tesla Model Y driving in front of the West Shore RCMP detachment with text that reads “Tesla Model Y”]

Cpl Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer: So what you see behind me here is the Tesla Model Y. It has been fully outfitted to meet policing standards and it’s been on the road here for a little over a year at West Shore RCMP.

[Tesla Model Y police car in front of West Shore RCMP detachment]

It’s specifically being used by our Frontline officers as a general duty police vehicle. It also has a one person prisoner cage in the back.

[Inside of the Tesla Model Y, RCMP officer driving the Tesla Model Y police car]

[Tesla Model Y police car pulling away from West Shore RCMP detachment]

In comparison to a regular general duty police vehicle that cost about $1200 a month to fill up and gas, the Tesla cost zero. So there’s significant cost savings right off the bat.

[Tesla Model Y police car on the slide of the road on patrol]

Officers that have driven this vehicle have given positive reviews. It’s quite difficult to run out the battery on a 12 hour shift. Officers naturally come back to the Detachment multiple times during the shift, that might be for prisoner transport or to meet a client at the front desk. And so during that time, they will routinely plug this vehicle in and we are consistent about making sure that we keep the charge up on this vehicle.

[Inside of the Tesla Model Y police car, RCMP officer backs into a parking spot]

[RCMP officer plugs Tesla Model Y police car into the charging stations at West Shore RCMP detachment]

The major difference between the Tesla model Y and our traditional vehicle, the Ford Explorer, is just simply the sheer size. So the Tesla model Y is a significantly smaller vehicle than the Ford Explorer.

[Close up of Tesla Model Y police car steering wheel]

[Close up of RCMP shoulder patch while driving]

[Close up of Tesla Model Y police car GPS screen]

You can see here that we have room for our Police equipment however, we don’t carry any extras. We are just carrying the essentials.

[Police equipment in Tesla Model Y police car trunk]

It’s important to remember that many RCMP detachments are located in rural settings with cold climates, so the Tesla model Y may not be a great vehicle for other detachments. However, it is absolutely perfect for what we use it here for on Vancouver Island. Right now we are testing the Tesla model Y however, we are expecting to also test the Mustang Mach—E and the Ford F150 Lightning.

[Tesla Model Y police car in front of the West Shore RCMP detachment]

[Inside of the Tesla Model Y police car, RCMP officer driving the Tesla Model Y police car]

[RCMP officer gets into Tesla Model Y police car and pulling out of parking spot]

[Close up of RCMP logo, 9-1-1 symbol, and green energy symbol on the back of the Tesla Model Y police car]

West Shore RCMP

West Shore RCMP partner up with Victoria Police Department to host ‘NHL Street’ in Langford

West Shore RCMP was pleased to partner up with the Victoria Police Department to host ‘NHL Street’ in Langford.

The 6-week program is an inclusive and accessible league that focuses on keeping kids’ active, no matter their hockey experience.

Transcript

Video description:

Video opens showing kids playing ball hockey.

Video shows Cst. Cole Brewer, West Shore RCMP is talking about NHL Street Hockey program. There is ball hockey game being played behind him.

Videos shows kids running and playing ball hockey.

Video depicts Volunteer Coach Garry Dhillon talking about the NHL Street Hockey Program.

Video depicts two kids, Aiden and Max talk about their experience in the program.

Video depicts Cst. Cole Brewer talking about the program and the connections with the kids, video then shows the kids playing hockey and spectators watching.

Video depicts Chief Del Manak, Victoria Police Department talking about how this program humanize’ police.

Video transcription:

Cst. Cole Brewer, West Shore RCMP: NHL Street is a youth ball hockey league. Kids come down here every Tuesday evening. We set up the improvised rinks. They play a little ball hockey. It’s all for fun. It’s a good way to keep kids busy in the summer. It’s really good way for us as the police outside of the school year to maintain contact with youth and interaction. Especially such a positive fun way. You see all these people here having a pretty good time.

[Youth in white jerseys celebrate a ball hockey goal]

[Cst. Brewer talking in front of a ball hockey game being play]

[Youth in red jersey taking a shot and a goalie in a white jersey making a save]

[Youth in a white jersey makes a save. RCMP car in the background]

[Red jersey team and white jersey team shake hands after a game]

[Families watch players warm up. RCMP motorhome in the background]

[Youth in white jersey high fives teammates]

Garry Dhillon, Volunteer Coach: It’s a great little program. 5-6 week program that kids get to play outdoors and have fun and be kids.

[Coach Dhillon talking to camera]

[Youth in white jersey celebrates with a teammates]

Cst. Brewer: It’s tons of fun because these kids are excited to be here they want to be here. Especially the younger kids.

[Youth players in red jerseys cheer with a member of the Victoria Royals Hockey Club]

Aiden, Flames Player: Getting to play the game, having fun.

[Aiden talking to camera]

Max, Flames Player: When you get a goal, It isn’t just you getting the goal it’s the person that gave you the assist. I love it. It’s the best.

[Max talking to camera]

Cst. Brewer: It’s important for kids to see us in that normal lens. To be down here interacting the kids, refereeing the game and positive interactions as opposed to enforcement capacity. You get to meet them especially over the course of a six-week season. And they go you know what, Cst. Brewer, Cst. Varley, Cst Hall and Cst Webb, are just normal people, just like my parents my teachers, except for they wear a uniform.

[Youth in white jersey celebrates with goalie]

[RCMP officer drops the road hockey ball for a faceoff]

[RCMP Community Policing volunteer gives youth a juice box]

[Member of Langford Fire Department watches ball hockey game]

[RCMP member gives youth a sticker]

[RCMP officer talking to youth player in front of a hockey net]

[Two RCMP officers hand out hot dogs]

[RCMP officer talking to a young child]

[Langford Fire Department member drops the road hockey ball for a faceoff]

[RCMP officer walking with a ball hockey game in the background]

Chief Del Manak, Victoria Police Department: I think the NHL Street program allows kids to play street hockey and humanizes police officers. We’re here supporting the kids, cheering them on, we’re refereeing their games half the time and it just allows kids to really see Police in a non-traditional role and build those positive relationships.

[Ref drops the ball for a faceoff with youths in red and blue jerseys]

[Chief Manak talking to camera in front of ball hockey game being played]

[RCMP officer and Victoria Police Department laughing together]

[Victoria PD Officer drops the road hockey ball for a faceoff]

[Victoria PD Officer watching ball hockey game]

[RCMP Officer handing out freezies to youth]

West Shore RCMP

West Shore RCMP Host 2025 Mountie Cup

The Mountie Cup is a senior girls basketball tournament played at Royal Bay and Belmont Secondary Schools. The tournament focusses on promoting women and girls in both sports and policing.

The opening ceremonies at both schools included presentations hosted by School Liaison Officers Cst. Varley and Cst. Webb from the Community and Indigenous Policing Unit. They than handed over the mic to Cpl. Hough who spoke about the RCMP Police Dog program. Newly graduated Police Dog Ryky came out to show off some of his skills and 11-week old future Police Dogs Triggs and Taber came out to show off how good they are at tug-of-war.

Transcript

[Close up video of Mountie Cup programs on a table]

[Video of tip off of a basketball game between two senior girls basketball teams]

[Video of female basketball game]

[Video of a female basketball player taking a 3-point shot]

[Video of 4 female basketball players from behind on the bench cheering their teammates on]

[Video of a female basketball player scoring on a hook shot]

[Video of female RCMP officer watching a female basketball game]

[Video from a low angle of a female basketball player making a basket from the 3-point line with fans in the stands]

[Video of a member of the RCMP Emergency Response Team showing a high school student drones and equipment]

[Video of two RCMP officers speaking to a high school student at an information table]

[Video o four female of basketball players and an RCMP officer using RCMP props at a photobooth]

[Video of a member of the RCMP Emergency Response Team speaking with three high school students]

[Video close up of Superintendent shoulder with RCMP patch watching basketball game]

[Video of Superintendent Preston giving out the Defensive MVP shirt to a player with other players from both teams cheering in the background]

[Video of sign displaying sponsors of the Mountie Cup]

[Video of a female RCMP officer in Red Serge watching three female basketball players take part in a shooting contest]

[Video of male RCMP officer speaks to two high school students at an information table about Finger Printing]

[Video of a high school student plays corn hole with a female RCMP officer in Red Serge]

[Video of two RCMP officers speak with three high school students at an information table]

[Video of RCMP’s ‘Safety Bear’ makes a 3-point shot and celebrates]

[Video from a low angle of female basketball game]

[Video of female basketball players playing with RCMP puppy]

[Video with high school students in the stands during a presentation about Police Dogs]

[Video of Superintendent Preston wheeling a cart in a gym designed to look like the West Shore RCMP Tesla]

[Video of female basketball player waiting to be subbed into game]

[Video of female RCMP officer in Red Serge wheeling a cart in a gym designed to look like the West Shore RCMP Tesla]

[Video of ‘Safety Bear’ pretending to warm up for the game with a group of female basketball players]

[Video of a group of female basketball players lining up for lunch from Jones BBQ]

[Video close up of pulled pork sandwiches being made]

[Video of a sign that reads ‘Special thanks to food donors House of Boateng and Jones BBQ’]

[Video of a sign that reads ‘Tournament Fees Compliments of Viking Properties]

[Video of young child high-fiving Safety Bear]

[Video of young child high-fiving female RCMP officer in Red Serge]

[Video of male RCMP officer fist bumping young child]

[Video of two West Shore RCMP Mountie Cup trophies]

[Video close up of West Shore RCMP Mountie Cup trophy]

[Video of female RCMP officer in Red Serge presenting trophy to pool B winning team]

[Video of the two pool B final teams taking a group photo with a female RCMP officer in Red Serge]

[Video of female RCMP officer in Red Serge presenting trophy to pool A winning team]

[Video of pool A winning team celebrating with trophy]

[Video of pool A winning team taking a group photo with a female RCMP officer in Red Serge]

[Mountie Cup Logo]

West Shore leaders visit Depot Division, home of the RCMP training facility

This year, Mayors and Chiefs from West Shore Communities were invited to tour the RCMP Academy-Depot Division, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Depot has been training members of the RCMP since 1885.

Mayor Doug Kobayashi (Colwood), Mayor Ken Williams (Highlands), Mayor Scott Goodmanson (Langford), and Mayor Marie-Térèse Little (Metchosin) were able to attend.

Watch our videos highlighting their trip to Depot: 

Part 1 - West Shore leaders visit Depot Division, home of the RCMP training facility

Transcript - Part 1 - West Shore leaders visit Depot Division, home of the RCMP training facility

[ Video starts with a text that reads: This year, Mayors and Chiefs from West Shore Communities were invited to tour the RCMP academy- Depot Division, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Depot has been training members of the RCMP since 1885. Mayor Doug Kobayashi (Colwood), Mayor Ken Williams (Highlands), Mayor Scott Goodmanson (Langford), and Mayor Marie-Térèse Little were able to attend.]


Cpl. Hiebert: Most of the people in the country have no idea what goes on behind these fences. Even people in the city of Regina don’t know what happens here and I think we need to tell our story.


[Cpl. Hiebert speaks with four West Shore mayors and Supt. Preston outside the Drill Hall]
[Four West Shore Mayors outside the Drill Hall]


Mayor Scott Goodmanson: I don’t think you can really understand or fully comprehend what goes on around here without actually being here. We’ve read about it and, we’ve heard about it for years, but, actually just seen the entirety of what is going on between all of the different levels of training, everything happening at once and the service they provide it really was eye-opening.


[Mayors Goodmanson and Little with Supt. Preston watch cadets training in gym]
[Mayor Kobayashi and Supt. Preston watch cadets Firearms training through window]
[Cpl. Hiebert speaks with four West Shore mayors and Supt Preston]


Mayor Marie-Therese Little: I think it’s important for us to be here to understand the training. So, when constituents ask us why do we need a force of five or a force of 15, we can explain to them what kind of training that goes on here that can’t be found just in one classroom or one gymnasium.


[Close up of Mayor Kobayashi and Supt. Preston listening during tour]
[Close up of Mayor Little]
[Close up of Mayors Goodmanson and Williams]
[Four West Shore Mayors speaking to an RCMP officer]
[Depot Training Instructor shows Mayor Goodmanson fitness records wall plaque]
[Four West Shore Mayors walking outside brick building]
[Mayor Kobayashi listening to Cpl. Hiebert speak]


Superintendent Todd Preston: You know over the years just speaking with the Mayors and Councils, it was abundantly clear that they don’t have a full grasp or perception of the training that an RCMP officer goes through. So, I really wanted our Mayors and our Councillors and our Chiefs to see firsthand the training from day one when a cadet shows up from all diverse backgrounds from across this country- to the 6-month mark where they complete their training. So that they can come back to their communities and provide the best possible service in terms of protective policing and policing in general.


[Four West Shore Mayors and Supt. Preston speak with Depot Commanding Officer Chief Superintendent Mike Lokken]
[Close up if Mayors Kobayashi and Williams]
[Four West Shore Mayors and Supt. Preston speak with C/Supt. Mike Lokken]
[Mayors Little, Kobayashi, and Williams listening on tour]
[Four West Shore Mayors, Supt. Preston, and Cpl. Hiebert speaking. Several cadets stand in background wearing their Red Surge]
[Four Mayors walk by a Troop of cadets lined up outside Depot building]
[Four Mayors listening to Supt. Preston inside Drill Hall]
[Fours Mayors watching a graduation ceremony for Troop 20]
[Mayors Goodmanson and Williams shake hands with graduating cadets]


Cpl. Herbert: I think the more people in those positions we can have come and see what it is we do and why we do what we do, and the quality of cadets that we are putting through depot. I think they would be more assured in the quality of members that they are getting when we send them to their detachments. So, they can rest easy knowing that when we send a cadet to a detachment anywhere they are well trained ready to go and they are professional and that’s what we’re putting out as a product here.


[Mayor Williams speaking with C/Supt. Lokken]
[West Shore Mayors shaking hands with RCMP Officers]
[West Shore Mayors listening to Cpl. Hiebert in Firearms training building]
[West Shore Mayors and Cpl. Hiebert viewing RCMP police vehicle]
[All four West Shore Mayors and Supt. Preston smiling for photo outside the A.B. Perry Building]


West Shore RCMP

Part 2 - West Shore learns about Cadet Training Program at Depot

Transcript - Part 2 - West Shore leaders visit Depot Division, home of the RCMP training facility

[ Video starts with a text that reads: This year, Mayors and Chiefs from West Shore Communities were invited to tour the RCMP academy- Depot Division, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Depot has been training members of the RCMP since 1885. Mayor Doug Kobayashi (Colwood), Mayor Ken Williams (Highlands), Mayor Scott Goodmanson (Langford), and Mayor Marie-Térèse Little were able to attend.]


Superintendent Preston: I think it’s important, not only for the Mayors, but for the general public to see their National Police Force which serves federally provincially and municipally, that they are able to adapt and modernize and become a police service that any community can be proud of.


[Canadian and Depot flags flying at Depot]
[Cadets marching in the Parade Square]
[Cadet stands at edge of the Parade Square]
[Close up of RCMP Forge Cap]


Cpl. Herbert: Cadets are here for 26-weeks of training. During that time, they experience Applied Police Sciences, which is the academic portion of training, fitness training, police defensive tactics training, driving unit and firearms training unit and, simulator. So, the cadets are extremely busy from the very first week they get here and the work just continues right through.


[Cadets watching Instructor demonstrate police tactics]
[Cadets training on virtual driving simulator]
[Training vehicle driving on closed training course]
[Cadets listening to instructors during firearms training]
[New cadets, lined up, listening to instructors]
[Cpl. Hiebert, Supt. Preston, and Mayor Williams talking]


Mayor Ken Williams: What I saw here was very comprehensive and I was very impressed with the way they’re dealing with our new society as Canada.


[Close up of Mayors Goodmanson, Kobayashi, and Williams with Supt. Preston]


Mayor Doug Kobayashi: Very progressive. Learning right now that a little more time is being spent on mental health side, the mental health training right now. I thought that was so encouraging. You know you can see it’s just not all tradition, that they are aware of what’s happening in society right now.


[Mayors Kobayashi and Williams speaking with Depot Commanding Officer Chief Superintendent Mike Lokken]
[Cadets in classroom]
[Close up of Mayor Kobayashi and Supt. Preston]
[Four West Shore Mayors, Supt. Preston, and Cpl. Hiebert speaking outside the Police Defensive Tactics Building]
[Four West Shore Mayors and Supt. Preston talking in the Drill Hall]


Superintendent Preston: The mayors that came with me were extremely impressed. They thought it was a world-class facility. They felt that the training has certainly modernized from what their initial thoughts were going to be coming onto this base which has always been kind of coined as a very militaristic base. And, I think once upon a time it was, it was very paramilitary. It still has a little bit of that to it but it has significantly modernized.


[Mayors walking outside of A.B Perry Building]
[Four West Shore Mayors, Cpl. Hiebert, and Supt. Preston outside the Drill Hall]
[Aerial view of a ceremony on the Parade Square]
[RCMP officers training with a Police Dog]
[Group of cadets listening to an instructor]
[RCMP divisional flags and provincial flags hanging in the Drill Hall]
[Four Mayors walk by a Troop of cadets lined up outside Depot building]
[Troop dressed in Red Serge lined up in formation in the Drill Hall]
[Drill Hall historical information poster]
[Drill instructor marching past cadets near Parade Square]


Cpl Dean Miller: The Drill and Deportment Unit is obviously a part of the cadet training program where we are trying to develop future police officers. We’re not just merely teaching them to march around in circles. We are teaching them actual policing skills, actual operational policing skills. So, that might mean that they are developing a bit of resiliency or composure in the face of a bit of adversity. It could also mean that they’re learning to work as a part of a team. Being part of something bigger than just themselves.


[Instructors observe cadets marching in formation on the Parade Square]
[Cadets march in the Parade Square]
[Overhead shot of RCMP police vehicles lined up on street within Depot grounds]
[Instructor observing cadets in a live scenario]
[Cadets training in gym]
[Sargent Major inspecting troops on Parade Square]
[Graduating cadets in Red Surge hug and congratulate each other at the end of their final ceremony]
[Four West Shore Mayors speaking to RCMP officer]
[RCMP ‘Core Value’ poster hanging at Depot]
[Cadets in classroom]


Commanding Officer of Depot Division Chief Superintendent Mike Lokken: Depot is the oldest division in the RCMP. It’s been around, next year we are celebrating our 140 th anniversary. So, to remain relevant to Canadian Society, obviously we have had to adapt and change. In our curriculum itself, we make in the neighbourhood about 300 changes every year. Now, some of them are minor tweaks and some of them are major changes. Like for example, scenarios, obviously the scenarios we had 10 years ago are not the same scenarios we have now. We look at them through an equality lens, we look at them to be representative of Canadian society. We look at them through a number of perspectives.


[Historical photos of Depot]


[Two cadets stand together, overlooking the Parade Square]
[Two RCMP police vehicle with emergency lights activated at Depot]
[West Shore Mayors and Cpl. Hiebert viewing RCMP police vehicle]
[Instructor observing a cadet in a live scenario, talking on their radio]
[Close up of cadet]
[Cadet in a simulated scenario on a screen]
[Cadets training in a live scenario]
[Two RCMP police vehicles driving in Depot parking lot]
[Cadets walking into a building]
[Cadet talking to an actor in a live scenario]
[Cadet putting handcuffs on an actor in a live scenario]
[Cadets walking together]


Mayor Ken Williams of Highlands: It’s a great facility. It’s like the Harvard for Police academy. It’s the buildings, the history here is amazing. The facilities are fantastic. It’s amazing the different kind of aspects of society they cover here.


[Ariel shot of A.B Perry Building and the Parade Square]
[Close up of “RCMP’ engraved in stone on the A.B Perry Building]
[Close up of RCMP crest and cadet patches on shoulder of a jacket]
[Cadets in Red Serge marching in the Drill Hall]


Superintendent Todd Preston: I can assure you what I witnessed on base and with the mayors witnessed watching the hundreds and hundreds of cadets go through the programming, the modern-day programming. There is no doubt that we are delivering on the knowledge skills and abilities for these individuals to come into our communities and do an effective job at policing.


[Supt. Preston and C/Supt. Lokken inspecting Graduating Troop in Drill Hall]
[Four West Shore Mayors and Supt. Preston listening to Cpl. Hiebert speak]
[Four West Shore Mayors, Supt. Preston, and C/Supt. Lokkenwatching graduation ceremony]
[Mayors Goodmanson and Little and Supt. Preston watch cadets train in gym]
[Cadets doing push ups in gym]
[Mayor Kobayashi and Supt. Preston watch cadets Firearms training through window]


West Shore RCMP

Distracting driving campaign a disappointing success

On the afternoon of July 25, 2024, West Shore RCMP partnered with ICBC and BC Highway Patrol to remind drivers to stay focused on the road and avoid distractions.

The distracted driving campaign had officers and volunteers stationed at three locations along Veterans Memorial Parkway. This area was chosen due to the high volume of traffic during the afternoon hours.

Transcript - West Shore RCMP - Distracting driving campaign a disappointing success

Video description

West Shore RCMP partnered with ICBC and BC Highway Patrol to remind drivers to stay focused on the road and avoid distractions. The distracted driving campaign was widely advertised with RCMP warning motorists in advance of where officers were going to be posted 

Video transcription

[ Video starts with a text that reads: "On July 25 West Shore RCMP partnered with ICBC and BC Highway Patrol to remind drivers to stay focused on the road and avoid distractions. The distracted driving campaign was widely advertised with RCMP warning motorists in advance of where officers were going to be posted."]

Colleen Woodger, ICBC Regional Road Safety Cordinator: We’ve been invited here out in the West Shore by their local RCMP to really raise awareness and educate drivers of risks associated to texting, talking on your phone, any form of distracted driving.

[ A police officer and two civilian volunteers outside watching for drivers who are distracted while driving. ]

[ An officer talks to the driver of a red car. ]

[ An officer writing a speeding ticket. ]

Sgt. Jereme Leslie, BC Highway Patrol Unit Commander: We’re trying to bring education to the public. They should know about this particular law, it’s been around for a number of years now.

[ An officer taking notes. ]

Cst. Sean Van Londersele, West Shore TCMP Traffic Unit: I think it’s still quite big. We still do get a lot of public complaints about it. So this is an opportunity for us to try and bring the point home again.

[ A red car pulls out of a parking stall. ]

[ An officer talks to the driver of a grey truck. ]

Jereme: As you can see a lot of signage up all along the way from the highway all the way onto Goldstream, unfortunately, with volunteers, and the signage, and a lot of police officers around, unfortunately we’re still quite busy today. And we’ve issued a number of tickets for using the electronic device while driving. Even with all those warnings up.

[ An officer walking back to the sidewalk ]

[ Cars drive down the road. ]

[ Signs with a phone crossed out and the text "while driving" are displayed on the sidewalk as cars drive by. ]

[ An officer and two volunteers watch a truck passed by ]

[ Two officers wearing yellow vests stand on the side of a road. ]

[ An officer holds a clipboard with a checklist. ]

[ An officer talks to the driver of a black car. ]

[ Another officer walks past multiple cars on the road. ]

Sean: Today is going atrociously well. I hate to say it, unfortunately, very productive.

[ An officer talks to the driver of a white car. ]

[ Another officer pulls over a black car. ]

Colleen: More people are actually dying from distracted driving then impaired driving now. So it’s a huge issue. It’s also the number one reason why any pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist is injured or killed on the road.

[ A close up of a car steering wheel with the driver texting on a cellphone is shown. ]

[ An officer talks to the driver of a white truck. ]

[ An officer wearing a "RCMP GRC Police" vest observes cars driving on the road. ]

Jereme: These particular issues aren’t just simply geographical to one particular area such as like the West Shore or Saanich or Victoria. They cross all boundaries. So it’s really important that the messaging is clear to the public and to all the road users because we share the roads with a number of other vulnerable road users.

[ A close up of an officer talking to a driver. ]

[ Another officer walks past multiple cars on the road. ]

[ Two officers observe cars driving on the road. ]

[ An officer talks to the driver of a white car. ]

[ An officer walks on the sidewalk while multiple cars drive by.

[ A police officer and two civilian volunteers outside watching the cars. ]

[ A closeup of a black vest with "Police" text on the center. ]

[ Video ends with a text page that reads: "Despite the Signage, Police Presence, and All of the Warnings, in 3.5 Hours Officers Issued:

  • 30 Violation Tickets for Distracted Driving
  • 18 Written Warnings for Distracted Driving
  • 6 Other Violation Tickets" ]

West Shore RCMP

West Shore RCMP Bike Unit

West Shore RCMP Bike Unit is made up of 4 Frontline officers. The unit’s mandate is to respond to calls for service and patrol the West Shore’s extensive trail systems.

The unit has been in operation since July 2018. Bicycle patrol enforcement limits the carbon footprint of police vehicles and provides year-round bicycle patrols in areas not easily accessible by police vehicles.

Transcript - West Shore RCMP - Suns out bikes out

Close captioning:

Video opens with upbeat music. Music continues playing and Cst. Reza Niazi is standing in a wooded area with his police bike in front of him. Cst. Reza begins talking about the West Shore Bike Unit. Cst. Niazi keeps talking and several video clips of him and other bike unit officers patrolling the Westshore on their bikes are seen.

Video transcription:

My name is Constable Reza Niazi and I work for West Shore RCMP Bike Unit. We have a variety of responsibilities. E-Bikes have the advantage to navigate through congested busy downtown core areas a lot faster than a normal police car can. Victoria and it’s surrounding communities; West Shore, Langford, Colwood and other municipalities that we police have a very extensive trail systems and people use these systems for a variety of reasons. One is for basically leisure activities or even to commute to work or other places. It’s very important for police to have easy and frequent access to these trails and our bikes are very advantageous for that because we can use them to get to a lot of places our police cars can’t. Electric bikes can offer a lot of advantages to police units in cases where a police vehicle can’t. They’re environmentally friendly, they produce zero emissions. The cost of operating is quite a bit less than a traditional police car. It’s a lot cheaper to charge a police mountain bike vs. purchasing fuel for a vehicle. You can equip them with a lot of extra accessories such as the saddle bags. We have police lights on our mountain bikes, so we can use them for a variety of reasons. When it comes to being cost effective they are quite advantageous.

We are taking time to remember and reflect on September 30th

West Shore RCMP officers and municipal staff will be wearing orange on September 30th. We encourage everyone to take time on this day to remember the survivors of Residential Schools. Remember the children who did not come home, and reflect on the ongoing traumatic impacts of Residential Schools.

We are honoured to have Chief Robert Thomas of Esquimalt Nation, Councillor Margaret Charlie of Songhees Nation, West Shore RCMP Cst. Cole Brewer of Okanagan Nation Lower Smilkameen Indian Band and Superintendent Todd Preston along with West Shore RCMP employees, take part in this commemorative video.

Transcript - West Shore RCMP - We are taking time to remember and reflect on September 30

Scene 1: Three people wearing orange shirts standing outside with the water behind them. Cst. Cole Brewer of the West Shore RCMP standing in the centre playing his drum. Standing on his left is Chief Rob Thomas and standing in his right is Councillor Margaret Charlie.

Cst Brewer begins singing an Indigenous song while drumming.

Scene 2: Song fades out and Cst. Brewer, Chief Thomas and Councillor Charlie are standing together. They introduce themselves and begin speaking about September 30th, Truth and Reconciliation day and Orange Shirt Day.

Chief Thomas: “Hello everyone, my name is Chief Rob Thomas from the Esquimalt Nation”.

Councillor Charlie: “Hello everyone, my name is Margaret Charlie, elected Councillor for Songhees Nation”.

Cst. Brewer: “I’m Constable Cole Brewer of the Okanagan Nation Lower Smilkameen Indian Band. Every year September 30th marks the national day for Truth and Reconciliation as well as Orange Shirt Day”.

Chief Thomas: “This day honours the children who never returned home, the survivors of Residential Schools, as well as their families and communities”.

Cst. Brewer: “Public commemoration of tragic and painful history and the ongoing impact of Residential Schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process”.

Councillor Charlie: “Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous led grassroots movement, intended to raise awareness of the family, community and inter-generational impacts of Residential Schools. [And] declare that Every Child Matters.”

All together in unison: “Hych'ka Siem” - this translates to “Thank you respected one”

Scene 3: Superintendent Todd Preston of the West Shore RCMP, is standing centre wearing an orange shirt. Behind him, standing silently are approximately 30 West Shore RCMP employees also wearing orange shirts.

Superintendent Preston is speaking about the importance of taking the time to remember the victims of Residential schools.

Superintendent Todd Preston: On September 30 th, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange. To honour the Residential School survivors and remember the children that did not come home.

Cst Brewer: [playing his drum and singing and Indigenous song] “We are beautiful, because we are Indigenous, because our land is beautiful. Hych'ka”

Scene 5: Video comes to an end by depicting the logos of Esquimalt Nation, Songhees Nation, West Shore RCMP and RCMP Government of Canada logos.

Women in policing: spotlight on Cst. Elyse Patten

Listen to Cst. Elyse Patten speak about being a woman in policing. Cst. Patten has 6 years of service with the RCMP. She is passionate about the community she lives and works in. When she is not working, she volunteers her time for charities such as Tour de Rock, Sarah Beckett Memorial run, and more.

Transcript - Women in policing: spotlight on Cst. Elyse Patten

Video opens with Cst. Elyse Patten sitting and speaking about her experience as a police officer. Several photos of Elyse in and out of uniform are displayed on the screen while she continues to describe her experiences as a police officer.

----

My name is Constable Elyse Patten I was recruited out of Victoria, British Columbia, and posted to the West Shore RCMP detachment. I have been a member for six years. I wanted a job where every day was different. I wanted to be able to meet lots of different people. I wanted a job where there was a lot of opportunity to try new things, to learn, to develop, especially with the RCMP the opportunity to travel, to experience new places and communities. (Because) I think it’s really important for my own development and growth that I can see how other cultures and other communities live outside of my bubble (in Victoria).

One of the most common comments that I receive when I’m not working and I tell someone I’m a police officer Is, they are amazed at how nice I am. When we are interacting with people in the community, they are having the worst days of their life, and showing kindness is usually the only thing they remember from that day. They won’t remember what we tell them, what we necessarily did, but they will remember how much kindness we showed them when they were experiencing such horrible things in their life.

I am lucky to live in a community where I grew up and my family lives here. I am a wife and a fur mom to a dog and two cats. I love to play soccer and sports within the community. I love to be involved with different events such as Tour de Rock or the Sarah Beckett Memorial Run, which is definitely a passion project for everyone here at the West Shore detachment.

Women bring a lot to this job as well as men, but it’s a fun job and you get to do things that you would never do in other careers. Don’t feel that you shouldn’t try (to become a police officer), because you’re a woman.

Pregnancy and policing, listen to an officer speak about what it’s like 

In honour of International Women’s day, West Shore RCMP Cst. Nancy Saggar talks about what its like being a pregnant police officer. Cst. Saggar joined the RCMP in 2009 has been a police officer for 11 years and is expecting her first child in March 2021. She is currently the Media Relations Officer at the West Shore RCMP and has experience in a variety of policing positions including frontline policing, serious crimes, First Nations Policing and is a member of the Vancouver Island Crisis Negotiation team.

Transcript - Pregnancy and policing, listen to an officer speak about what it is like being a pregnant

Video opens with Cst. Nancy Saggar speaking. A photo of her being 8.5 months pregnant appears on the screen. The video continues with Cst. Saggar speaking about being a pregnant police officer and her anxieties surrounding how her pregnancy and maternity leave will affect her career goals and aspirations.

Cst. Saggar continues talking about her experience as several photos of her working in uniform are displayed on the screen. The video ends with a photo of her wearing a shirt that says “Due in March”.

--------

My name is Constable Nancy Saggar. I’ve been a police officer for 11 years now. I am currently 8 and half months pregnant with my first baby. And so I thought it might be a good idea to talk about pregnancy and policing. So one of my major concerns was, what happens to my career once I become pregnant and I am gone on (maternity) leave for a year to 18 months? Is that going to affect my career aspirations?

Realistically that is an anxiety that I think a lot of women in this job have. I'm not alone in that. What helped me navigate and get through those feelings was to really just sit down and have a frank conversation with my supervisor and bring my concerns to the table. Once I did that, I was actually met with a lot of support from my supervisors and from my bosses. It really helped quash some of the anxieties that I had surrounding my career goals. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a supervisor tell you that you’re still a part of the team.

Just because you become pregnant doesn’t mean that you’re not a contributing member of the RCMP. So I think that is something that is very important for women who are entering this job who either are considering having a family, or maybe you already have a family, and you want to become a police officer, it’s totally possible.

There are going to be adjustments that need to be made, you may not be able to answer the 911 calls, especially the violence situations, the way that you would have if you are in fact caring a child. Obviously at a certain point you’re no longer going to fit into uniform. It’s simply not physically possible to wear a gun belt and put on a kevlar vest when you are heavily pregnant. It’s also just not safe. So that is something that has to be addressed.

I am in a position where I’m able to work from the office and still contribute. There are tons of investigations that are done not necessarily out in the field, but behind the scenes, and so that’s a way that you can contribute. So if you’re out there and you’re thinking is this a job for me? Is it possible that I could be a police officer and be pregnant at the same time? Or be a police officer and be a parent at the same time, and have a family life and have a work life? This is a career that can work for you. There are going to be adjustments that are going to need to be made, but that’s something that you will sit down and discuss with your supervisor and come up with a plan that works.

West Shore RCMP spotlight on RCMP Police Dog Services- Cpl. Sansome and Erik

In celebration of National Police Week, here is a closer look at Cpl. Sansome and his police dog, Erik, who are a members of the West Shore RCMP and South Island Police Dog Services.

Transcript - West Shore RCMP spotlight on RCMP Police Dog Services- Cpl. Sansome and Erik

Video depicts Cpl. Sansome standing and talking while his Police Dog, Erik, is laying by his feet and playing with a chewing toy.

My name is Corporal Melvin Sansome I’m with the West Shore (RCMP), South Island District Police Dog Services. This is my service dog Erik. Erik is a seven year old German Shepherd from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police breeding program in Innisfil Alberta.

We provide a variety of different jobs to the members. From conducting drug searches of houses, vehicles, boats, (to) looking for lost people, finding evidence, doing school talks and demonstrations, (as well as), criminal apprehension’s and tracking.

The best part of my job obviously is working with the dog. The dog is a lot of fun. It’s fun to watch the quirkiness of the dog, It’s fun to watch the way he approaches things. It’s really cool to see him actually doing a task, to actually see him locate a gun or drugs or find someone who’s missing in a bush or clearing a building or something. It’s really fun to see him get animated and perk up…(and) the other members that have never seen it before and they actually get to see it and I see their excitement.

Photo cutaway caption reads: Take a look at Cpl. Sansome and Erik in training…

Cpl. Sansome: RCMP Police Dog! Stop or I’ll send the dog! Stop you’re under arrest! Stop or I’ll send the dog! You will get bit! Hang em up Erik! That a boy, good boy!

Caption on the screen reads: Thanks for watching. Visit www.rcmpcareer.ca , a uniform with your name on it is waiting for you.

Date modified: