Patrol

The Patrol Section is the largest division of the Oak Bay Police Department, consisting of 16 officers and 5 civilian support staff. It is the Patrol Section of the Oak Bay Police whom the public most often see or have contact with.

The purpose of Patrol is: To provide, the citizens of Oak Bay with a proactive police response within the framework of Community Based Policing, which is responsive to their safety and security needs.

Within this framework, officers are deployed on a "need for service" basis to maintain public safety, security, and quality of life.

The majority of the constables of the Patrol Section are assigned to the Patrol Operation Branch. These officers work shifts and are deployed twenty-four hours a day throughout the year. They are responsible for responding to calls for service which are usually generated by a citizen calling 911. The officers' response to calls is determined on a priority basis, with those calls which endanger, or are likely to endanger, the life of any person taking top priority. When police vehicles are traveling with their sirens on and emergency lights activated they are responding to calls of a life-threatening nature or serious crimes in progress.

Criminal Investigation

The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is responsible for initiating investigations into criminal activity and for providing investigative support to the uniformed division, Patrol. The overriding priority for CID is the reduction of crime and the public fear of crime. The Division consists of a Detective Sergeant and Detective Constable.  Together they are responsible for the investigation of such crimes and incidents as suspicious sudden deaths, homicides, robberies, sexual assaults, serious assaults, child exploitation, frauds, drug offences, and other matters requiring specific expertise or extensive follow-up and investigation.

Community Services

Community Services Constable

Reporting to the deputy chief constable, the community liaison constable is responsible for researching, analyzing criminal offences, social problems and communicating with citizens in the municipality. The constable will enforce laws; protect life and property, and delivery Crime Prevention programs. The constable works out of a community services office and sub offices staffed by volunteers and will be the catalyst in involving all social agencies in community problems and solutions.

Neighborhood Watch

The Neighborhood Watch program is aimed at reducing crime in the community by educating neighbors to be alert for suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

Speed Watch

The community liaison constable and/or volunteers conduct traffic surveys at locations citizens have identified as areas of concern. For example, speeding or lack of observance of crosswalks or stop signs. The results of the surveys are referred to patrol for further enforcement.

Business Watch

Business Watch establishes a liaison between businesses and the community services constable to assist in efforts to reduce crime in the business community. Businesses registered with Business Watch receive fax alerts to inform merchants about local crime.

Block Parent

Select parents who are concerned about the well being of children in the neighborhood display a Block Parent sign in a front window when they are home.  Children in distress then know a block parent is home to provide a safe refuge and assistance.

School Liaison

The purpose of the school liaison function is to enhance the relationship between the police and the school community to improve policing services and to prevent crime by:

• creating a better understanding of the role of the police officer in the community;
• giving students a basic understanding of law and order, including their responsibilities to the law and its protection of them;
• creating a better understanding of the individual's responsibility to their community;
• offering presentations on crime and safety issues which are relevant to youth; and
• monitoring and taking appropriate action in relation to crime in the school community.

Community Liaison Office Resources

• engravers
• educational videos
• child safety information
• referrals to service agencies
• advice and direction on all police related matters

If you require further information on any of the above programs please email the Community Liaison Constable or phone the Oak Bay Police Department at (250) 592-2424.