From typewriters and triplicate to instant computer access in the car, Sgt. Mike Martin says three decades of policing includes vast changes.

The Oak Bay officer recently celebrated 30 years. He started in Ontario, spending 17 years in regional policing in Oxford County before coming to Oak Bay 14 years ago.

He spent two decades in investigative positions, often in a covert capacity. Assignments ran the gamut: small teams, large teams, solo work, crowd control and large and small multi-jurisdictional units and even schools.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e enjoyed all those things,B次元官网网址� said Martin. Now back on patrol in Oak Bay and recently celebrating 30 years in policing, he sees opportunity in a more B次元官网网址渙vertB次元官网网址� role B次元官网网址済etting to know the stakeholders in the communityB次元官网网址� otherwise known as residents.

He took the with fellow officers and many residents earlier this year at Willows Beach to raise funds for Special Olympics BC and was the key organizer (and instigator) of the inaugural First ResponderB次元官网网址檚 Challenge Cup for Cops for Cancer on Monday (April 23)

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 embracing that role,B次元官网网址� Martin says.

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His B次元官网网址淭eam Oak BayB次元官网网址� consisted of local police and fire members, Victoria and Saanich police officers along with Oak Bay parks, recreation and local B次元官网网址楧uffersB次元官网网址� players. The stands filled with fellow first responders and students from the adjacent high school.

B次元官网网址淚t was really community-oriented and I had a blast and I know the kids had a blast,B次元官网网址� Martin said.

Team Oak Bay won the game, but the event was about much more, Martin said. It was about engaging with youth and importantly, raising funds for Cops for Cancer, which supports pediatric research and clinical trials to improve detection and diagnosis.

Martin says his team off the ice is as inspiring.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 surrounded by an incredible team (at Oak Bay Police Department). Our experience dwarfs a lot of another departments right now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not competitive with each other, weB次元官网网址檙e one solid team here, weB次元官网网址檙e not opposed to reaching out and getting help.B次元官网网址�

The experience, with added youthfulness in recent hires, lends itself nicely to the B次元官网网址渘o call too smallB次元官网网址� philosophy he enjoys at OBPD. It affords an opportunity to build, and maintain, relationships.

B次元官网网址淵ou got to a call and stay with it beginning to end and revisit the people later,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he community is so small youB次元官网网址檙e going to see them B次元官网网址� so why not embrace that and make sure weB次元官网网址檙e all on the same page. And you can bend their ear and see how weB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�

He recalls a few years ago an older lady called with a bird flying about breaking things in her house. He found a hat box, trapped it, and let it out into the night.

B次元官网网址淭hat as her contact with the police,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪mall things can sometimes make a difference in somebodyB次元官网网址檚 life.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou get a bit of everything here.B次元官网网址�

Expects to hang out for another five years though doesnB次元官网网址檛 expect dramatic changes such as moving from reports written in triplicate and finding a payphone to run a name and the bigger philosophical changes surrounding transparency.

These days an officer writes a report, supervisors review it, administrators review it, if it goes to court there are more reviews and of course the media reports on it.

HeB次元官网网址檚 also seen significant rise in mental health issues and addiction.

B次元官网网址淭he opioid crisis is hitting all of our departments and communities hard,B次元官网网址� he said, noting an exponential rise in related calls. B次元官网网址淚t seems to be right across all facets of our community now, thatB次元官网网址檚 a big change.B次元官网网址�

When his handful of years are done in Oak Bay, his work with youth, including the recent hockey game, give him confidence in the future. And he has advice for young cops.

B次元官网网址淚f somebody was starting the best things you could be is be yourself. I always tell younger officers, police like your parents are watching. Treat people like you want to be treated,B次元官网网址� he said.

Another thing stuck with him from his coaching officer: B次元官网网址淵ou spend as much time doing as we do as you do with your own family so treat your policing community as your home.B次元官网网址�