VicPD has revealed its new strategic plan that will guide police priorities for years to come.
According to the department, the plan prioritizes community relationships, the needs of people seeking help and the wellbeing of VicPD members.
In a media statement, Chief Constable Fiona Wilson said that since arriving at VicPD from her former job with the Vancouver Police Department, she wanted to listen to the community and understand the needs of both Victoria and Esquimalt.
She arrived in Victoria from Vancouver and began her new career as chief constable in August 2025.
In that time she has determined it best to focus on community policing, Indigenous engagement, foot patrol teams, reducing street disorder and modernizing the department.
“I made a commitment to focus on the people who work here, the people who make up our communities and those who are most in need of our help,” said Chief Wilson.
“I wanted a bold vision and a mission and values that reflect the people who make VicPD exceptional. Our ambition is to build an organization unlike any other agency in Canada, shaped by the communities we serve and the standard of service we expect of ourselves.”
This new strategic plan is Wilson’s way of making the department her own and setting herself apart from her predecessor, former chief constable Del Manak.
According to VicPD, the plan’s central vision is: “VicPD. The standard for excellence in policing.”
Apart from its vision, the plan’s mission is “To champion public safety with heart and resolve.”
VicPD says that mission will be put into practice via five values for officers. Those are to “Be accountable. Practice humility. Show up. Think big. Serve exceptionally.”
Overall, the new strategic plan has four goals that include 12 priorities. Those include:
- Safe, secure communities
- Modernize service delivery through innovation and data
- Advance proactive policing to prevent crime and respond effectively to calls
- Lead the exploration of a regional policing model
- A modern, progressive, thoughtful police department
- Nurture relationships with the Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt First Nations
- Invest in relationships with diverse communities
- Strengthen transparency and trust through authentic engagement
- A resilient, healthy, supported VicPD
- Equip members with health and wellness resources
- Build a culture of empowerment and resilience
- Embrace modern, collaborative governance.
- A fully staffed, resourced, inclusive organization
- Attract, train, deploy and retain exceptional members
- Provide the facilities, tools and technology they need
- Pursue a collaborative budget process that supports predictable, sustainable and appropriate funding
VicPD says that for residents and businesses, the new plan will mean putting more emphasis on visible policing and helping the department understand local concerns.
For police officers, it aims to provide direction and a commitment to securing the resources and equipment required to serve.
VicPD budget context
Regarding budget increases, since 2015, VicPD’s annual budget has nearly doubled from $48.9 million to $89.89 million.
In the City of Victoria’s 2026 budget deliberations, council approved a 9.8% increase from the year prior, when the goal was to keep departmental increase in line with inflation, which was around 3.2% at the time the budget was approved.
Policing in Victoria costs the City around 23% of its entire budget, and is a major driver of annual property tax increases.
While the City’s 2026 budget was being created, Chief Wilson attended a committee of the whole meeting to make her case for why VicPD needed such a large increase to their budget.
She wanted to bring on 25 more police officers, and also stated that many of the cruisers would need to be replaced.
When Chief Wilson and VicPD announced the new strategic plan, another new endeavour was included in the announcement—a new look for the department’s cruisers.
New cruiser look
The new look for VicPD’s fleet features a prominent Sta’qeya, or Coast Salish wolf.
This design is already used in VicPD’s Indigenous heritage crest, and was designed by Songhees elder and master carver Yux’wey’lupton (Clarence “Butch” Dick).
“The wolf represents our people and our origin story, but it also connects all of us and our communities,” said Yux’wey’lupton.
I see this as a storybook, and this is the first page of a story we are writing together. I take pride in being part of the work to repair the relationship between police and our people. There is more work ahead, and my hope is that this opens conversations, builds understanding and helps us move forward together.”
The wolf design is deeply significant in lək̓ʷəŋən origin teachings, and VicPD says it represents the department’s connection to the people whose traditional territories it serves.
The design was incorporated into the new fleet design with the Elders’ blessing.
“A police vehicle is often one of the most visible ways people encounter their department,” said Chief Wilson.
“We wanted this design to reflect both our members’ pride in their service and the communities that make Victoria and Esquimalt special.”
VicPD says the new design will be applied to the entirety of the fleet as the department brings new vehicles online, replacing vehicles that have reached the end of their useful service life.
The cost of the new look came from the existing 2026 VicPD budget.
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