Under Del Manak, VicPD’s budget ballooned from $53.9 million in 2018 to something like $82.5 million in 2025, a 53% increase. Inflation was 23%. Despite their track record, Victoria keeps giving VicPD more money, defunding other projects and services. It’s hard to keep track of their total funding.
During a misconduct investigation, Manak spoke positively about an officer accused of “sexual assault upon a complainant who was obviously intoxicated and was clearly vulnerable.” Manak said they were “a hard working officer” and that it wouldn’t happen again. opcc.bc.ca/wp-content/u...
![Sgt. Keleher received considerable support from both his [colleagues] within the Victoria Police Department and from the community. Chief Cst. Del Manak has stated that Sgt. Keleher is a hard working officer and a quality investigator. The Chief Constable has stated that Sgt. Keleher has expressed a great deal of remorse for what has taken place. The Chief Constable is confident that the incident that gives rise to these proceedings will not be repeated.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x2ojtemkdgeywq2ua6fx7gcu/bafkreie7qzjqzbu2r5zeiwvlihpuadxd2t4vgoejzxzfptg7ecwk4s2te4@jpeg)
In 2021, after Black Press ran a piece on VicPD’s arrests of Indigenous youth, Manak “reamed out” the publisher at a hockey game and threatened to blacklist them, after which the article was taken down and edited. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/vicpd-b... www.canadaland.com/podcast/376-...
Manak co-authored a letter with local police chiefs saying they had “lost confidence” in the elected school board and later praised the decision to fire them. Police shouldn’t weigh in on whether elected officials are capable of holding office, but that’s part of his legacy. bsky.app/profile/step...
Manak incorrectly told the police board and councillors that the acronym “ACAB” is legally hate speech. “Being a police officer” is not a legally protected identity. Police chiefs should know the law. www.timescolonist.com/archive/crit...
![From: Manak, Del Sent: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 12:24:39 PM To: Charlayne Thornton-Joe (Councillor) ; Geoff Young (Councillor) Subject: RE: Mural Hi Charlayne, I understand that City staff are having behind-the-scenes conversations with the BIPOC artists so I think [redacted] As you know, I am coming to Council on Thu to present the Q2 report so feel free to ask me questions or state your personal thoughts on the topic. Personally, I am offended at the ACAB acronym as it constitutes hate speech which we would NEVER tolerate for any other group. The Supreme Court of Canada has set limits on free speech and you cannot hide behind hate and bigotry by calling it art. Citizens don’t get to choose which group they hate and which group they don’t hate regardless of the reasons they provide. Hate speech is hate speech and it should not be tolerated in any form by anyone. If we allow hate speech for some groups and justify it then we are going down a slippery slope.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x2ojtemkdgeywq2ua6fx7gcu/bafkreihidiietpmrbrb47km7tgkd6rdrxhsxakbbcpsdmiyhhixwf6nihe@jpeg)
Acting as external discipline authority, Del Manak found that VPD handcuffing an Indigenous man and his 12-year-old granddaughter outside a bank after they tried to open a bank account was justified. He was overruled. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar... opcc.bc.ca/wp-content/u...
Police killings, bloated budgets, and other systemic issues were not new under Del Manak, but he’s responsible for the department and his actions. Policing in Victoria is violent, it’s racist, and it defunds other services. When the city celebrates policing, this is what they’re celebrating.