Natasha Baldin/News Staff
The Victoria Police Department’s new community rover, unveiled Thursday (June 29), aims to engage citizens in conversation, promote community partnerships and support the ongoing recruiting program.
“When you see the rover, you know that you will either find an officer, a professional staff member, a special municipal constable, a reserved constable or a volunteer that you can talk to about how to get involved in creating a safer community,” Chief Const. Del Manak said at the unveiling event.
The community rover is a no-cost lease from the provincial Civil Forfeiture Office. When vehicles and goods are seized as proceeds of crime, they can be referred to the CFO for forfeiture consideration.
Municipal police departments can then apply to repurpose vehicles for community engagement and education programs, according to a statement from VicPD.
The rover’s exterior was designed by VicPD digital experience designer Hervey Simard, with Indigenous designs by Songhees artist Butch Dick.
“It’s dynamic and fluid in the design and reflects our community values and the importance of our connection with Indigenous partners,” Simard said.
Community supporters were present at the event, such as Dianne Dennis and Christa Easton, who work at Tillicum Elementary and help with the facilitation of the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS). They spoke to the importance of the rover in building positive community relationships.
“For the kids at our school, a lot of them don’t have positive community connections, and this is huge for them in making that happen,” Dennis said.
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