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Victoria Police Department looks for diverse board members

Two job postings are available on the board, which controls the police budget and policies
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There are two vacancies at the Victoria Police Board (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

The Victoria Police Department is looking to diversify its police board.

The police board is comprised of municipal and provincial representatives responsible for establishing policies for police service, developing annual department priorities, approving the police budget, appointing department staff and making rules and guidelines for police administration and constables.

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Presently, the Police Board is comprised of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins Victoria council nominee Patti Stockton, Esquimalt council nominee Evan Southern, lawyer Brian R.D. Smith, elementary school Principal Sean Powell and educator and mediator Keven Elder.

In a job posting put out this week, the Crown Agencies and Board Resourcing Office said there are two vacancies on the Board, after a recent recomposition of the Board.

In their requested attributes for consideration, along with personal experience and skills the posting strongly supports the application of someone who could represent a more diverse background.

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“To support strong boards that reflect the diversity of our province, women, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (LGBTQ2S+), and others who may contribute to diversity in public sector board appointments are encouraged to put their names forward for appointments.,” the posting reads.

While Victoria Police spokesperson Const. Matt Rutherford couldn’t speak for the Board, he said the request wasn’t largely new.

“I understand that the guidelines they have in place comply with the current board make up,” Rutherford said in an email.

Voices that are needed on the board include those with experience in : Indigenous representation, human resource expertise, technology expert, government and public sector knowledge, experience working with children and youth, community outreach, and “Those who identify as a minority, either through ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other.”

The Board faced heavy criticism in 2018, after the Police Complaint Commissioner raised concerns that the board allegedly used money from the police department’s budget to pay for a private media crisis consultant and lawyers during the former Victoria Police Chief Const. Frank Elsner’s investigation.

The Board is a largely volunteer-based group where members receive an honorarium and reimbursement for related travel or out-of-pocket expenses. The group typically meets 10 times per year.

nicole.crescenzi@vicnews.com


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