Victoria Police hope Esquimalt will say yes to more staff after council denied last yearB次元官网网址檚 request.

Chief Del Manak presented the departmentB次元官网网址檚 2019 provisional budget to the Township of Esquimalt council Monday, asking for $8.3 million in total, including $60,237 towards a downtown Victoria-based community response team, an Esquimalt traffic officer, a cyber-crimes coordinator and a research analyst.

The cost for Esquimalt is based on 14.7 per cent of the total cost B次元官网网址� an agreement between the Township and the City of Victoria.

Packed house here in 鈦︹仼 to hear 鈦︹仸鈦� and 鈦︹仼 teamB次元官网网址檚 2019 budget presentation.

B次元官网网址� Evan Southern (@evan_southern)

According to ManakB次元官网网址檚 presentation, 2017 Community Survey respondents said they wanted VicPD to B次元官网网址渂e more visible in the communityB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渟pend more time talking to people.B次元官网网址�

Manak told Black Press that community feedback has also shown Esquimalt is in need of its own designated traffic officer.

B次元官网网址淲e continue to hear concerns about traffic through the major thoroughfares, through residential side-streets, traffic safety, school zones, playground zones and enforcement of traffic laws,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏y having a dedicated Esquimalt Division traffic officer, [thatB次元官网网址檚] going to increase the capacity for us to be able to respond to the needs of the Township.B次元官网网址�

With no permanent additions since 2010 and growing populations (Between 2011 and 2016 Esquimalt grew by 8.9 per cent and Victoria by 7.2), Manak said pressures on the department have grown substantially.

B次元官网网址淣ot only do we have more people, thereB次元官网网址檚 greater complexityB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a tremendous amount of pressure faced by the police department. It is quite reasonable, in my opinion to help bridge that gap and to make sure we have enough officers to respond to community needs.B次元官网网址�

In spring 2018, Esquimalt did not approve VicPDB次元官网网址檚 request for $94,374 for six additional police officers.

As a result, Manak cut the departmentB次元官网网址檚 school liaison program, saying he needed to re-allocate officers to other postings.

VicPD then sought a provincial review to determine if the six officers were needed. The province has not yet made a judgment, but its decision could mandate the TownshipB次元官网网址檚 council to help cover the cost of the six additional officers B次元官网网址� over and above the departmentB次元官网网址檚 newest request.

Overall, VicPD is seeking $57 million from the two municipalities B次元官网网址� a six per cent increase from 2018. EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 portion is a 5.7 per cent increase from the 2018 request.