Victoria area police disagree on amalgamation

Police chiefs from forces in and around Victoria are in conflict over their interpretation of a recommendation from a coroner's inquest into a multiple murder-suicide in the community of Oak Bay.

The inquest jury investigating the violent fate of the Peter Lee family in 2007 has recommended the police chiefs "continue unification efforts of the various police departments."

Lee's family had dealt with three different police departments before Lee murdered his wife, their six-year-old son and his wife's parents before taking his own life.

'It's a political decision' Saanich police Sgt. Julie Fast

Victoria police chief Jamie Graham said he sees the jury recommendation as a call to amalgamate the area's seven forces.

Graham was quoted late Tuesday as saying he was "very pleased with the jury recommendations" and he expected the amalgamation to happen within a few years.

But not all his fellow chiefs in the area agree.

"In [Graham's] view, the next step is regionalization," said Oak Bay's police chief, Ron Gaudet. "I don't quite see it that way."

Saanich police spokesperson Sgt. Julie Fast agreed.

Regional domestic unit possible

"Amalgamation is not on the table. It's a political decision," said Fast. "We're putting our efforts into the operational decisions that impact our community."

The jury also recommended the creation of a single, integrated domestic violence unit made up of police officers, counsellors, corrections officials and social service agencies.

The Saanich force already has a family violence unit made up of police officers and a family counselor.

The 23-member Oak Bay police department has relied on the Saanich force's unit for help.

Both Saanich and Oak Bay spokespersons said they are willing to join a regional domestic violence unit as recommended by the inquest jury, but stop short of an amalgamation of entire forces.

If the special unit is created, area forces might have to find their own resources to do it.

B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed said after the Lee Inquest concluded that he was committed to fighting domestic violence, but could not guarantee if his government would implement the inquest's recommendations.