True Blue Podcast

Inspector Michael Brown was on duty on 28 June 2022 and served as the Critical Incident Commander (CIC) for this event.  Insp. Brown is a 29-year Police veteran, a former GVERT operator and Team Leader, he talks about wanting to be a police officer as a kid and the GVERT Christmas gift he got as a 15-year-old! 
“Why Waltz, when you can Rock & Roll.”

Insp. Brown goes through some of the historical GVERT information and how the team has evolved and progressed since the inception.  Mike also goes over the BMO bank hostage taking from his perspective as the Officer in Command of this operation.   Hear Mike, discuss how Patrol 1st responders and ERT members stepped up and became heroes that day.

Inspector Brown importantly takes time to thank a few lower mainland law enforcement partners for their support and personnel contributions on the day of the bank hostage taking and for several days following.  A big thank you to the police officers who have since volunteered to be the next crop of GVERT members and to those who will fill the role in the future – be safe!

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 [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

"Your husband has been shot" - is anyone ever ready for this news?
A career in police work is inherently dangerous and the families are thereby subjected to wondering how safe their spouse or parent is while on duty.  
The True Blue Podcast is delighted to have Amanda MacIntyre and Angela Reichert share their stories about what the past two years have been like after both their husbands were shot during the BMO incident.  
Hear how they received information about the shooting, all the steps on that day and the many challenges over the next 2 years.
Special thanks to the Greater Victoria community for the continued support.
#GVERT
#TrueBlue

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 [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

The "True Blue Podcast" is proud to chat with Cst. Steven Reichert from Saanich Police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT).  He was injured during the BMO Robbery and Shootout, one gunshot wound to each leg and one to his left forearm.

Steven shares details of being shot, the amazing tactical response of his teammates and shortly thereafter the medical response efforts by GVERT and Saanich Patrol members to save his life and the lives of the other officers.  Steven also talks about his personal family situation, his medical recovery process in hospital, the long physio process and the challenges of his mental and emotional wellness.  Steven became addicted to opioid meds, and he describes in detail the efforts to get off those medications.

Moving forward, Steven will continue to work towards a full recovery and get back to an operational role, he looks forward to sharing his experiences in training opportunities with other ERT operators and police officers in general.

https://www.ntoa.org/conferences/tactical-conference/

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 [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Rollie Woods joins Tom Stamatakis in this episode to talk about Police Oversight in British Columbia.  Rollie is a former Deputy Commissioner at the BC Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPPC).  He has 35 years of policing experience, 10 years experience on the Executive of the Vancouver Police Union (VPU) and as President of the Senior Officer's Association before moving to work in Police Professional Standards at Vancouver Police and ultimately at the OPCC.

Rollie and Tom agree that Police Oversight has an important role to play in ensuring there are professional and accountable police officers working in BC.  Rollie highlights how important open communications with the public, police agencies and police unions were during his tenure at the OPCC.  He also brings light to the different standards of police oversight currently in place here in British Columbia and how confusing to the public it must be.

Tom gets some comments from Rollie about police body cameras and how they might influence future Police Act investigations.  How it assists with confirming what really took place and provides the public with some assurance that proper accountability is being attained.  Body cameras also come with challenges related to cost, storage and personal privacy.

Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC)  https://opcc.bc.ca/

Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (CACOLE) https://cacole.ca/home-accueil-eng.shtml

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 [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

The Victoria City Police Union (VCPU) is proud to introduce Sgt. Angela Van Eerd (Union President) and Sgt. Joan Elliott (Union Secretary).
Hear directly from these two inspirational leaders as they join Matt Waterman to discuss their rise to important positions on the Executive of the VCPU.
The VCPU was organized in 1946 and after 77 years the members have elected their first female President!

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 [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

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 [email protected] 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/

[email protected]

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast