By acting Victoria police chief Del Manak
On Thursday, Feb. 2, Victoria Police Department volunteers and reserves began ringing doorbells as they visited randomly selected residences and businesses in Victoria and Esquimalt to deliver the 2017 VicPD Community and Business Surveys.
These volunteers are reaching out to the citizens whom we serve to ask for your help in charting our future. This survey project will help VicPD ensure we are serving citizens and businesses to the best of our ability. That is why, if one of our volunteers or reserves knocks on your door, I’m really hoping you’ll take the time to give us the feedback we need.
Many of the surveys will be delivered by our volunteers during the early evening hours. Each survey package contains a self-addressed stamped envelope to return the completed survey at no cost to participants, as well as an option to complete the survey through a secure online service. We’re hoping that most participants will chose the online option as it streamlines our processes and reduces costs. In order to be included in our analysis, the surveys must be returned by March 9.
In addition to the surveys, VicPD will also be holding focus groups in the coming months to broaden the range of feedback that we receive for this project.
Once the surveys and focus groups are completed, we’ll be reporting results in part through a series of sit-down conversations with community members in Victoria and Esquimalt. A separate conversation with business people will also be held to report on the results of the business survey. More information on these sessions will be shared in the coming months.
Many members of the VicPD team, including the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board, will be playing key roles in ensuring the survey is successful to help guide our department’s course over the next three years. It is one of my top priorities as acting chief and I plan to use the results to help guide the department to meet your needs in the years ahead.
If you are interested in reviewing our 2014 survey results, please visit vicpd.ca/publications.
For those of you who are randomly selected and who take the time to give us your feedback, I want to take this opportunity to thank you in advance on behalf of the women and men of the Victoria Police Department. This survey project simply cannot be successful without you.