Our Mission
The Saanich Police Department is committed to providing culturally informed, community-responsive public safety services.
About Spd
The Saanich Police Department operates under the direction of the Saanich Police Board, the civilian governing body responsible for selecting the Chief Constable and for providing oversight of our strategic plan, policy and finances. The department currently has 185 police positions, 60 civilian positions, and 50 Reserve Constables. It is further broken down into six divisions with functions ranging from operations to administration, each under the command of an inspector reporting to the Office of the Chief Constable.
Our organization is complemented by a range of volunteers, including our crime prevention students, those in our Block Watch and ACE programs, as well as our Reserve Constables who dedicate their time, energy and expertise in a variety of functions such as road safety, crime prevention and community engagement.
Central to the activities of the Saanich Police is a commitment to a formal, five-year Strategic Plan encompassing the philosophy of Community Policing. The Strategic Plan serves as a set of guidelines for staff when considering how to best deliver services. Each year, work plans are created in order to respond to emerging issues and making any required course corrections. The Strategic Plan is available to the public and can be found here.
Our Values
We hold true certain values that guide how we provide our service and direct the manner in which we treat each other and the community. We stand behind our values and offer them as the standard by which our actions may be measured to ensure that we provide the highest quality service to the Municipality of Saanich.
Respect
We treat all people with Respect, regardless of circumstance
Trust
We act in a manner that allows other to Trust in what we do
Integrity
We act with Integrity in all situations
Accountability
We are all Accountable for our decisions
Compassion
We are Compassionate in our dealings with others
Fairness
We ensure Fairness guides our actions
Open Communication
We are committed to Open Communication
Community Partnerships through Teamwork
We build Community Partnerships through Teamwork and collaboration
Major Divisions
The Saanich Police Department consists of the following six divisions. Each division is comprised of several sections and units which can be reviewed in detail on our organizational chart below, click here for the full size image.
This division includes sections and units that provide a support function for the operational divisions of the Saanich Police.
This division was created to ensure that the Saanich Police engage in innovative strategies that will increase our capacity to dedicate the appropriate time, energy and resources necessary to work alongside our citizens and community partners in delivering a variety of pro-active policing initiatives. The division includes our Youth and Schools Section, Bike Section, Crime Prevention, Block Watch and volunteer programs including the Reserve Police.
This division includes seven plain-clothes investigative sections staffed with police officers that have specialized in their respective fields of investigation. Officers are assigned to these sections on a 2 to 5 year term.
This division is dedicated to promoting and maintaining the highest standard of professionalism for the Saanich Police. The Professional Standards Division includes the Professional Standards Section which oversees the complaint process and the Research and Policy Section which conducts any research or analysis required to keep departmental policy and practice current and effective.
This division consists of the Recruiting and Career Development Section which is responsible for the recruiting and hiring process of police officers, and the Response Options and Training Section which coordinates the training requirements for the department.
This division is the largest of our six divisions. Patrol officers are the public face of our police department working to establish and maintain community relationships. Every officer hired by SPD will serve a number of years in Patrol developing their investigative skills before transferring to any specialty unit.
