True Blue Podcast Matt Waterman

In celebration of Black History Month, the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU) is proud to speak with Tim Kituri who is currently serving as a Provincial appointee on the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board.

Tim came to Canada a little over 20 years ago and now resides in Esquimalt.  He is originally from Kenya and tells a very unique story while living in the capital Nairobi about a specific incident where he was in fear of the police.  He also shares a positive story about his first police interaction in Halifax when he was a student at University.
 
Tim discusses some of his new experiences as a police board member over the first 9 months of his service.  Learning more about who is behind the badge has given him a new appreciation for police officer dedication and commitment to the community.
Here is a link to Tim's impressive educational accomplishments:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy1kituri/


Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):
- Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union
- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/
- Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/
- Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/
- Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Erin Toplak, President of the Vancouver Island Chapter of "Beyond The Blue" joins VCPU Director and host Tom Stamatakis on this episode.  Tom and Erin are life partners and share some of their own struggles of being a partner to a police officer.

VI Beyond The Blue (BTB) is a non-profit organization that provides peer support to the families and spouses of police officers.  BTB wants to create a safe and comfortable place for family members to reach out to and find support.  Erin reminds everyone that a specific incident doesn't need to happen before you reach out to BTB and she encourages families to be pro-active in finding a strong support network.

Find important links below:

https://www.vancouverislandbeyondtheblue.com/

info@vancouverislandbeyondtheblue.com


Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/vancouverisland_btb/


Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/people/Vancouver-Island-Beyond-The-Blue/100087399397694/

Call direct to Canada Beyond The Blue: 1-647-249-7121


Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):
- Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union
- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/
- Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/
- Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/
- Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Meet the most important “Prevention and Intervention” team in Greater Victoria that focuses on Youth Exploitation.  The incomparable Mia Golden has been in the business of Youth and Family Counselling for about 30 years and is the backbone of MYST.  Her current partner is Cst. Gord Magee, he brings 26 years policing experience to the team and has been attached to MYST the previous 3 years.

Hear from Mia and Gord directly on what exactly their team does on a daily basis and how involved they are with youth and families being targeted by predators looking to take advantage of vulnerable youth.

The Victoria City Police Union (VCPU) wants to advocate for new and increased funding streams to support this team and their mandate of protecting our children.  The workload is heavy and critically important.

26:45- 28:36 Hear direct from Mia on the issue of losing Police Liaison Officers in our Schools, she speaks from many different perspectives – as a youth worker in the community, as a parent, and as a black person.  She recognizes the importance of building relationships with police officers ahead of a serious incident, is in her words, “so important through a trauma-informed lens.”

https://www.vicnews.com/news/new-funding-aims-to-stop-predators-from-exploiting-greater-victoria-youth-653739

https://pacificcentrefamilyservices.org/counselling/crime-reduction-and-exploitation-diversion/


 


Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):
- Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union
- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/
- Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/
- Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/
- Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Cst. Angelina "Ange" Atkinson is one of the 6 new recruits in Class #172.  Ange comes to VicPD as an experienced BC Deputy Sheriff, looking to expand her law enforcement career into the policing world.  She is a rare "home grown" Victorian, a graduate of Lambrick Park Secondary, the Camosun College Criminal Justice Program and also a graduate of the Greater Victoria Police Camp Program.

Ange is no stranger to training at the Justice Institute of BC, she completed her Sheriff training in 2019 and returned as an use of force instructor for the Sheriff Academy in 2023.  She is now halfway through her Police Academy training and really looking forward to her Block II field training in the streets of Esquimalt and Victoria.

Anyone considering entering the "recruiting process" at VicPD should listen to this episode - Ange's story of perseverance and commitment to  get hired is inspiring.  We wish her good luck in her new career!



Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):
- Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union
- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/
- Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/
- Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/
- Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

In the final episode of Season 3, we get an update from Cst. Chris Allen who has now been working for VicPD for 2 years.  Chris is working in the Patrol Division; he has been passing on his experiences and knowledge as a Field Training Officer (FTO) to new recruits.  Chris is a former high school teacher, and we believe well suited to be training new recruits in their Block II. 
Chris gives us insight into some of an operational police officer’s daily functions; he shares what he does to maintain his personal wellness; and he comments on de-criminalization of drugs from a patrol officer perspective.  


Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):
- Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union
- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/
- Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/
- Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/
- Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

"The White Hatter" is a team of on-line professionals helping teens and their families with everything from sextortions to extensive digital literacy training.  Darren Laur is a retired Staff Sergeant with 30 years service at the Victoria Police Department.

The White Hatter has assisted 294 children and their families, 18 of those identify as females and the remainder teen boys – the youngest being 12 years old.

The team continues to teach digital literacy and internet safety to students, parents and caregivers, businesses and organizations.
Visit their website for more information: https://thewhitehatter.ca/


Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):
- Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union
- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/
- Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/
- Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/
- Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast