The District of Sooke is set to bolster its law enforcement capabilities by introducing two additional officers, ensuring round-the-clock police coverage for the first time in the area.
This development is part of the district’s plan to hire five police officers within the next three years, with an additional two officers being added to rural areas by the province.
That amounts to $242,000 for each officer when factoring in pay, benefits, and equipment.
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According to Staff Sgt. Greg Willcocks, the commander of the Sooke RCMP detachment, the community has experienced significant growth. As a municipality expands, it becomes necessary for policing services to evolve and adjust accordingly.
The shift to 24-hour policing will provide more service to the community, he said.
“These additional officers will bring us in line with what a community of this size should have in terms of policing resources,” he added. “Having police coverage 24/7 ensures a consistent and reliable policing presence, with room for expansion as the community grows.”
Over the years, there has been concern about the lack of round-the-clock police service.
Although rare, brazen late-night and early-morning crimes have left their mark on the community.
Last May, thieves drove a stolen truck through the front door of Sooke Power Supply and stole about $40,000 worth of equipment. Two and a half years ago, a vehicle was driven into the store area of the local Petro-Canada station on Sooke Road in an attempt to steal a bank machine.
Willcocks said “there is always a police presence” in Sooke. He wouldn’t detail police shifts or where officers come from when not on shift.
Deputy mayor Al Beddows stated that the funding for the new officers would come primarily from an expanded tax base due to new development, resulting in only a minimal tax increase.
He pointed to the recent multi-family housing developments on Otter Point Road, Drennan Street, and Otter Point Road and how property taxes from those developments could fund up to 1.2 officers alone.
Beddows said that once Sooke RCMP transitions to round-the-clock service, he expects to see more crime prevention programs and has requested police walkabouts in the downtown core.
The round-the-clock police service will begin soon after the province approves the additional officers, Willcocks said,
This year, the District of Sooke’s police budget is about $2.5 million.
