B次元官网网址淚 can assure you, I have two daughters, there is nothing more important than making sure that my daughters, your daughters, your sons, our kids in this community are kept incredibly safe,B次元官网网址� said Supt. Todd Preston, officer in charge of West Shore RCMP, at a City of Colwood meeting on Nov. 5.

The superintendentB次元官网网址檚 words of reassurance has followed news the West Shore RCMP will be B次元官网网址渞espectfullyB次元官网网址� withdrawing from three Greater Victoria Regional Policing Units, including the Mobile Youth Service Team (MYST), which works with high-risk youth from ages 13 to 18.

The decision to exit has been made as the three services have been duplicated by West Shore RCMP-focused programs, which can provide a B次元官网网址渂etter serviceB次元官网网址� to residents, said Preston.

But news of the decision, which Preston says was B次元官网网址渓eakedB次元官网网址� before he had time to speak directly to each municipality, has caused the spread of B次元官网网址渕isinformationB次元官网网址� within the community, implying West Shore RCMP would no longer be offering any youth services.

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately [Langford] council amplified some of the misinformation,B次元官网网址� added Preston, referring to a City of Langford meeting on Nov. 4.

In an attempt to clarify the decisions made, prior to Langford's Nov. 4 meeting, Preston sent a letter to all municipalities, explaining each police unit earmarked for withdrawal already has a similar service in place, solely for the West Shore.

B次元官网网址淲e want to be responsible and not duplicate services,B次元官网网址� Preston told Colwood councillors.

But at Langford's Nov. 4 meeting, councillors said the withdrawal from MYST, which is set for Dec. 31, 2025, will leave B次元官网网址渁 gapB次元官网网址� in the West Shore RCMPB次元官网网址檚 service.

B次元官网网址淚 felt quite frankly very dismayed and quite blindsided,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Lillian Szpak about the letter from Preston.

B次元官网网址淲e need to see this team continue,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Kimberley Guiry, who said she was worried there would be an assumption Langford had a connection to the decision.

In attendance at the Langford meeting was Insp. Stephen Rose, who was available to speak on the decision and answer questions. However, he was never invited to speak, nor did councillors pose any questions, something Preston told Colwood councillors he was B次元官网网址渟urprisedB次元官网网址� by.

B次元官网网址淎nd I was a little surprised that Coun. Szpak did not recall the contributions of Pacific Centre Family Services Association and the role of the [West Shore Youth] outreach team,B次元官网网址� said Preston, referring to the program that will continue instead of MYST. B次元官网网址淏ecause she [Szpak] was part of the consultation process for that money and the extra position B次元官网网址� I thought that she understood the mandate there.B次元官网网址�

At the Colwood meeting, Preston defended the quality of West Shore RCMP's youth outreach service, describing it as the "gold standard" in the Capital Regional District (CRD).

B次元官网网址淣obody else that IB次元官网网址檓 aware of has access directly to their police force," he said. "Everybody is linked into MYST, which we all know is overworked and does not have the appropriate staffing.B次元官网网址�

Acknowledging the spread of misinformation may have been caused by his delay in communicating these decisions to each municipality, the superintendent offered his apologies to Colwood councillors.

Alongside the withdrawal from MYST, West Shore RCMP will also be exiting the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team on Dec. 31, 2025, and the Regional Domestic Violence Unit on Dec. 31, 2026.

According to Preston the "progressive and proactive" decision-making will save around $300,000, which could help fund additional roles for the West Shore RCMP, while also "giving back" around $75,000 to the seven municipalities served by the police force.

B次元官网网址淲e can provide a better service to the West Shore, add to that service and still give you money back,B次元官网网址� he said.

There was also reassurance from Preston that the RCMP would not be working B次元官网网址渋n a siloB次元官网网址� and would still share information and work with other police departments in the CRD when needed.

While also surprised by the news, Mayor Doug Kobayashi said he B次元官网网址減icked up the phoneB次元官网网址� and called Preston, so he could fully understand the decision, which he gave his support to.

B次元官网网址淚 understand that this would be just the same service delivered in a slightly different, more focused way to our residents, and that for me is key,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Dean Jantzen.

The municipalities of Metchosin, Highlands, Songhees First Nation and Esquimalt First Nation are all supportive of the decisions made by West Shore RCMP, said Preston.

The Town of View Royal said Mayor Sid Tobias will be talking to the superintendent at a future date.