Victoria, B.C. needsmorespikes.com
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The question is not whether allowing access to regulated drugs is the right thing to do. The question is whether enough collective will can be mustered to overcome the carceral bureaucracy keeping regulated drugs out of reach. DULF can do it –– with your help. drugdatadecoded.ca/the-most-urg...
I'm sure everyone is celebrating Del Manak Day in their own way.
It's not an exaggeration to say there isn't a single word of criticism or reminders of VicPD's many failings under chief Del Manak in any of the legacy news outlets this week.
Oof. I saw in one report he reflected on his retirement saying "There's no scandal." Wasn't there a big one just last year? I put together an alternate take on his legacy! www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/del-man...
Happy Del Manak Day, everyone! May his legacy be accurate. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/del-man... #yyj
SLOs are back in SD61 next week after an extended lobbying campaign. It's a slap in the face to those who reported being harmed by the program. Manak once told the police board teachers use SLOs to bring kids 'back in line.' He's getting his wish. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p...
did they really think that FIVE PERCENT of estimated number of British Columbians who use unregulated opioids was sufficient I call bullshit on this
lol at Horgan considering joining the BC Liberals back in 2013. Sounds about right. The article also follows that up with excerpts showing his complete lack of insight into his failures on drug poisoning deaths. vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
This is incredibly dangerous and it seems to be a common technique for police.
These 'We stopped someone for an innocuous reason, and look what we found!' stories shouldn't be taken at face value. There's every chance they wanted to stop the person anyway and they found an excuse. With good representation this could probably be tossed out. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/b...
City budgets keep being looted. "Victoria’s incoming police chief has secured a salary nearly $53,000 higher than her predecessor. CTV News Vancouver Island has learned Victoria Police Department (VicPD) Chief Fiona Wilson is earning $350,000 annually." www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/va...
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
Shoddy record keeping, obstruction, and playing with numbers to create "fear and anxiety." No correspondence between the police chief and the mayor? Sure, why not. And FOI request processing stalled out, as emails are deleted. The Vancouver Police Department, everyone! #cdnfoi
VicPD's new police chief starts today. Nothing will change.
The city proclaimed August 27, 2025, Del Manak’s last day, as “Del Manak Day.” If the city wants to celebrate his legacy, it’s good time to reflect on what policing actually looks like in Victoria. More details and sources in the thread. #yyj 🧵
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.
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...
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 "Click to view full size")
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...
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-...
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 "Click to view full size")
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.
Under Del Manak, VicPD continued to use their police cars to intentionally hit people on foot, on bicycles, and on scooters, despite their own policy. VicPD used their police cars to intentionally hit at least a dozen people during Manak’s time as chief. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/police-...
Under Del Manak, 14 VicPD officers retired while under investigation between 2018 and 2023. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/2024/2/...
The last case was their botched “Project Juliet” investigation. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... Drug seizures like Project Juliet, which VicPD continues to engage in and promote as a public good, are linked to increased overdose deaths. ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10....
Under Del Manak, there were at least three separate cases where officers were called out by judges for misleading the court, for things like: providing “unreliable” testimony; providing “an inaccurate reconstruction” of events; and having “misled the Crown, defence and the Justices.”
![Screenshot of CanLII ruling. [59] As a result of my conclusion it is not necessary for me to address in detail the further argument of the defence that Cst Hilborne’s stop of [Name] was a ruse and not the genuine reason for the stop. I will simply say that I find Cst Hilborne’s evidence that the MVA infractions were the sole reason for the stop to be unreliable. It may be that Cst Hilborne’s memory of his intended purpose in stopping [Name] that night has also been impaired by the passage of time, but his evidence seems incongruous with the surrounding circumstances.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x2ojtemkdgeywq2ua6fx7gcu/bafkreid5fn73ghettkw5776xejrbnozgylnbatya5gw52wrizb4szgowlm@jpeg "Click to view full size")
![[24] I conclude that Cst. Ewington's evidence is an inaccurate reconstruction of what was in his mind during the time from when Mr. Huntley came to his attention to the time that Cst. Ewington saw what he thought was a canister of pepper spray. I find that Cst. Ewington's decision to stop Mr. Huntley for crossing Johnson Street when the pedestrian countdown had already begun was reflected in what he said to Cst. Tremblay:](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x2ojtemkdgeywq2ua6fx7gcu/bafkreibkrvfpyqhkdly3hlxf4izdveqvs5v6fnczbyqo4b4ydc4q4tz6zi@jpeg "Click to view full size")
![[24] Through their actions investigators misled the Crown, defence and the Justices that issued authorizations and warrants into believing that the investigation commenced in June 2020.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x2ojtemkdgeywq2ua6fx7gcu/bafkreieusctxau33skjk3tjxbadrd7jm37xhql7gfi2oggl6sh4gkveigi@jpeg "Click to view full size")
Under Del Manak, VicPD continued to work with the CBSA and turn people over for deportation. VicPD’s overall engagement with CBSA increased by 61% from 2019 to 2023. VicPD won’t provide information on how many deportations they facilitate. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/vicpd-a...
Under Del Manak, VicPD continued to disproportionately label BIPOC people “suspects” or persons “of interest.” Systemic racism extends to VicPD’s traffic work, where they disproportionately list BIPOC people as “drivers” and “passengers” in their reports. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/2023/2/...
Under Del Manak, VicPD officers disproportionately used violence against Indigenous people (16.62% of use of force “incidents,” compared to 5.11% population) and Black people (3.09% use of force “incidents,” compared to 1.83% population). bsky.app/profile/step...
VicPD killed at least 4 people under Del Manak, including Lisa Rauch (the officer committed misconduct). When VicPD killed a man in 2021, Manak said he had “‘every confidence’…his officers dealt with the incident appropriately.” The IIO has since asked the BC Prosecution Service to consider charges.
Under Del Manak, VicPD continued not to publish overall use of force data. But we know that from 2018-21, VicPD filed 3,337 use of force reports, including 1,055+ where the person was in crisis, and 570 where they said they injured someone. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/use-of-...
The city proclaimed August 27, 2025, Del Manak’s last day, as “Del Manak Day.” If the city wants to celebrate his legacy, it’s good time to reflect on what policing actually looks like in Victoria. More details and sources in the thread. #yyj 🧵
Pretty wild; does seem like they were attributing it to OT. "Montsion was assigned to Project Champion in 2024, and 'most investigators involved in that complex investigation made more money than past years as it involved travel and overtime.'" ottawacitizen.com/news/2024-su...
Tangentially related, thinking of VicPD and seagulls, here's an example of the type of thing VicPD doesn't proactively release. There was no press release about an officer driving too fast and killing three seagulls. You can also see how they made a joke of it internally. bsky.app/profile/step...
You could re-file the same FOI for video in three years and they’d withhold it for a different reason. Also, the idea that releasing any emails about birds attacking their drone would harm the investigation is rubbish. Anyway! CC @timfordwrites.bsky.social y.social and @kwardvancouver.bsky.social
If they hadn’t shot someone beforehand with an 'extended range impact weapon,' this is probably the type of clip they would release. Anything they think would make people think good thoughts about them, whether it’s exonerating or a “fun” news story (birds attack drone, officer makes bird jokes).
I asked VicPD for footage of seagulls attacking its drone, and any messages VicPD sent about seagulls attacking its drone. All denied because VicPD says it could “harm a law enforcement matter.” Police like to claim new tech promotes transparency, but you’ll never see footage unless it suits them.
"why couldn’t people go to a community clinic to get a no-hassle prescription, or buy a limited amount from a pharmacy?" Medical Health Officer: "well that would be safe supply, can’t have that."
Vancouver PD has also taken to sending bills for FOIs based on the hourly wages of the police searching their emails. Which they can't do for individual requesters or media, but it doesn't stop them from trying. Here's a bill I got (similarly, later reduced to $150, but only after OIPC intervened).
SCOOP 🧵 Two years after being caught using Clearview AI facial recognition software, Calgary police signed contracts for "image recognition" software that scours photos and videos for individuals. 1/ drugdatadecoded.ca/calgary-poli...
Public safety trailers, police drones, miscellaneous 'police have deployed cctv' notices. The safety is off the charts!
Not directly related to this story, it's wild to me that to make a personal records request, Calgary PD asks for both a copy of your ID, and for you to take a selfie while holding your ID. Maybe they can add those to their database.
Great reporting from @drugdatadecoded.ca on Calgary PD's use of image recognition technology. And expensive reporting, too - it took $1,100+ in FOI fees to get this story and report it out! #cdnfoi
I can already think of the various reasons they'll say no (already deleted, active investigation, can't blur public, and/or GVERT's drone not ours so...) but a good idea to test the limits of police transparency when it comes to their tech. Will keep you posted.
"Maurine Karagianis, a nearby resident [and former NDP MLA] who has lived in the neighbourhood for 30 years, said she doesn’t feel the proposed townhomes are in keeping with the size and scope of the neighbourhood." Says past densification took her ocean view. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/w...
An older woman was struck by a motorist in a marked crosswalk in my neighbourhood last week, at Michigan and Douglas. I spoke with a police office at the scene who remarked that "there's poor visibility" (there is excellent visibility) and that the speed limit is 50 km/h (it's 40 km/h)...
Saw the city using seven bylaw vehicles, a dumpster and one police van to displace and steal from someone this morning. The city spends millions actively not housing people. #yyj
There's a #yyj police board meeting at 5pm. I can't make this one - if you tune in, you'll probably be the only person watching in the world! Public agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard
There's a #yyj police board meeting at 5pm. I can't make this one - if you tune in, you'll probably be the only person watching in the world! Public agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard
NEW Calgary Police Commission sat for a year on at least 2 complaints of wilful deceit by former chief Neufeld following the May 2024 police brutality of protestors at the UofC. In that time, documents show they failed to investigate the claims to any degree. 1/ drugdatadecoded.ca/calgary-poli...
I remember Fallout being quite good! I think 2 is the low point.
i've got to ask my #yyj city council how increasing the police budget helps me get high-quality and low-cost housing like this
"street disorder" is this moment's euphemism allowing everyone to avoid saying they can't bear to witness the consequences of their cowardice, the violence theyve done to the people they abandoned, many are still alive send the police to address street disorder www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
They could have given everyone $680 a month. Instead we get a morally bankrupt vision to jail and displace more people. www.victoria.ca/city-governm...
huh. what have residents requested nothing? REALLY oh i see nobody asked them. here's the BCNDP agreeing to remove supportive housing from the RTA.
Report is here. pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...
Recommendations also include having the city endorse shameful lobbying efforts to erode people's rights by imprisoning more people not convicted of a crime, and to undermine the Residential Tenancy Act. In other places "bail reform" means things like "end cash bail"; here, it's rightwing nonsense.
I see Victoria's "Community Safety Plan" recommendations include permanent automatic budget increases for the police. The city already rewards VicPD with more than that every year, but adopting this measure would codify a long-term commitment to the status quo. Police don't keep people safe.
”Frank Chong, the chair of the Vancouver Police Board, said the board learned about the $5 million dollar plan, named ‘Task Force Barrage,’ through Mayor Ken Sim’s press conference with then-chief Adam Palmer in February.” this is IMMENSELY fucked up www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
this is The Body Camera: The Language of Our Dreams by @equalityalec.bsky.social, which explains the costs of police body cameras bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/campuspress....
On the laughable point upthread about VicPD 'falling behind' on technology, I would point to their Terradyne armoured vehicle; their drone program which is more expensive than they will publicly say; their constant engagement with Axon on tasers and surveillance tech.; etc.
Hayes: Board has received results of 2025 community survey [$10,000 or-so money pit per year for people to say they fear visible poverty and that maybe police are an answer???]. Will be published soon. Meeting adjourns.
Manak: Says delays in determining whether complaints are admissible taking toll on officers. [Here are some stats on VicPD retirements while under investigation: www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/2024/2/... ]
Hayes: What can the board do in a prolonged investigation to support officers? "Is there an advocacy role … for looking for better timelines?" VicPD: Biggest value is speaking and advocating on our behalf to OPCC. [VicPD's 'we support the OPCC' shirt is raising a lot of q's answered by shirt]
Hayes suggests not spending on tech and bodycams could affect recruitment; Manak agrees. Hayes: Asks if recordings of incidents will "contribute to wellness" of officers. VicPD: Says it will be better for officers and could reduce investigation timeline. [Bodycams are for cops, not the public]
Manak says it would be "cost-prohibitive" to implement a full program in 2026. [Surely the plan is to ultimately do it, though? Millions and millions to spend and waste]. Hayes calls technology "a governance issue" [the board participates in lobbying events from technology companies]
Manak: Are now going to propose "a small introduction" program in 2026. A full implementation "will be extremely costly" for transcription, storage, privacy, cataloguing, reporting out, disclosing. Says he 'wants to make sure community is on board.' [Sounds like something to campaign against]
Faoro: "Do we know the cost to fully implement body-worn cameras for all frontline officers" and ongoing costs? Manak: Had asked for a $150,000 pilot in 2023 [rejected by councils, and then province on appeal]. Says "VicPD is falling behind with technology" [pardon me, no]
Says they acknowledge they could have done a better job speaking with Rauch's family; say they will come up with a better process to engage with family early on "in a situation like this."
Brown: Says VicPD has already updated its note taking standard; Oppal has suggested VicPD lobby for legislation around note taking.
Inspector Brown on Police Complaint Commissioner report on misconduct finding against Ron Kirkwood for killing Lisa Rauch in 2019. Talks about Oppal's recommendation to buy bodycams [which will be a money pit, keep nobody safe, and according to one study cited in Defund, can increase harm]
Manak: Going to start additional patrols etc. using provincial funding [I think] in the next two weeks. Expect a press release.
Manak immediately follows that up by saying there are 'staffing' challenges. [So, despite shovelling a quarter of the city's budget to the police for years — an $80 million budget — somehow even more police will solve visible homelessness and poverty. Paying more to try to disappear people]
Manak now talking about working with business association "to enhance [VicPD's] presence downtown." Says VicPD already going to get $ from the province to deploy more police downtown to address "social disorder and nuisance calls" [a world is possible where that has zero to do with police]
Manak talking about Victoria's "Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan." Says it "comes from the community" and is "community-inspired." [those are different things but okay] Says the purpose is "to re-imagine what we can do in a number of areas." Will "improve" collaboration with bylaw.
On to update from Manak. Says he presented a bunch of awards and plaques.
Hayes: Will report back on recent learnings on police oversight. Now presenting on BC Association of Police Boards, says Inspector King's presentation on "the fentanyl crisis and what's brought us here" was "well received." [Police are non-experts on drug policy]
Desjardins: Says councillor Boardman is in the room. Says Community Resource Officer Ian Dyack is trying to "reinvigorat[e] Esquimalt Together Against Graffiti." [Was it these nerds who messed up the art along the E&N a while back?]
On to declarations of conflict of interest - none. [I think it was last meeting when they voted to give themselves raises; also no conflicts declared. Public discourse has been so poisoned against city council raises that they can't do that anymore, but the board gets to do whatever it likes]
Sohi: Wants program to grow beyond five days. Presentation ends.
Manak: Says "most community groups" "are absolutely humbled … that the police department reached out to them" to speak about their culture and "how they perceive the police." Says VicPD has been brought closer to communities.
Desjardins: Is group going to Esquimalt? Major: Don't have distinct groups between Victoria and Esquimalt. Sohi: Intercultural Association has stats on what community groups are growing; can attend and speak with them.
Major: Says by attending festivals they have been invited to additional festivals. Hayes: "has the impact of endearing VicPD to some of the cultural groups you're working with."
Major: Budgeted "quite sparsely" for program. Honoraria and renting spaces. Says program could be expanded to two weeks.
Major: Renting spaces "to provide a neutral space" for presentations; also looking at more site visits. Recruits wanted 'more background on residential schools.' Candidates found "[Equity, Diversity and Inclusion] 101" really valuable.
Presentation from Cheryl Major and Mandeep Sohi on "Before the Badge." Based on feedback from six recruits who have taken training so far. Major says feedback was that recruits want more time with groups, more time for reflection, and more local content.
Meeting is streaming here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uzu...
The agenda also includes the findings that Ron Kirkwood committed misconduct when he killed Lisa Rauch, and Oppal’s recommendation for bodycams. Bodycams do not keep people safe. If VicPD film their next killing, it won't have stopped it. The only way to stop police violence is to get rid of police.
I don't know if the use of force training above is part of "Before the Badge," but 16.6% of VicPD use of force is against Indigenous people (5.1% pop) and 3.1% is against Black people (1.8% pop). Policing is violent and racist. That’s the job the recruits are signing up for. bsky.app/profile/step...
Agenda includes a presentation on "Before the Badge," training designed to "introduce new police recruits to different communities." Recruits "liked how [EDI 101] broke down big ideas like systemic discrimination." [Training isn’t going to make policing, or VicPD, less racist or less violent.]
There’s a #yyj police board meeting at 5:00 pm. Will follow along here. Public agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard
"Residents and workers at Muncey Place, a supportive-housing complex just south of the mall, reported in 2023 that a shrill noise was audible from their rooms and offices. The noise, which continues today…" Two years of what one person calls a "torture tactic." www.timescolonist.com/local-news/n...
as City of Victoria bylaw officers confiscated the tents and possessiolllns of people living on the side street away from Pandora – which the @theglobeandmail.com's "reporting" made even more of a target for derision, criminalization and vigilantism – but it was not a sweep
Here's a thread with the results of a bunch of the FOIs I've filed. bsky.app/profile/step...
Talking FOIs with @godfrey.bsky.social! File an FOI and see what your local police are up to. Or if you'd rather, the Raspberry Industry Development Council. FOIs! #cdnfoi
Seven days for a life. The decision calls his actions “reckless and unnecessary.” Oppal is also recommending bodycams, which do not prevent police violence. VicPD will kill someone again. The only way to stop police violence is by getting rid of the police. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
In the two years after Ron Kirkwood killed Lisa Rauch with ARWEN rounds, VicPD filed seven use of force reports where they say they both: 1) Fired ARWEN rounds at someone; and 2) Injured the person with their use of force.
If Ron Kirkwood goes five years without another admissible complaint, he will officially have no record of misconduct.
Seven days for a life. The decision calls his actions “reckless and unnecessary.” Oppal is also recommending bodycams, which do not prevent police violence. VicPD will kill someone again. The only way to stop police violence is by getting rid of the police. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
For the average remuneration of one VicPD officer (2023), you could provide five people with a guaranteed income of $2,308 a month.