After an unexpected shakeup earlier this month, the provincial government announced Friday the appointment of three new members to the Victoria Police Board.
Chris Denford, Roxanne Helme and Maureen Shaw will join Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin and two municipal appointees at the police board effective immediately.
“(The new members’) expertise in legal matters, governance, and health and safety will further the strategic and co-operative relationship between Victoria and Esquimalt – building on the considerable work both communities have done to make their combined policing relationship successful,” said Justice Minister Suzanne Anton in a statement.
The appointments of four provincial police board members were allowed to expire earlier this month, leaving the board unable to confirm their chosen replacement to Chief Const. Jamie Graham, who retires Dec. 31.
Graham’s successor is rumoured to be current Sudbury police chief Frank Eisner.
The lapse between new appointees also put on hold year-long negotiations between Victoria, Esquimalt and a provincial mediator to hammer out a cost-sharing and service agreement for the two municipalities, who share policing services.
Anton said she plans to meet with both Fortin and Desjardins soon to discuss the matter, and thanked the efforts of outgoing members Linda Lee Broughton, Roy Cullen, Gurdial Dodd, David Johns and Karen Kesteloo.
dpalmer@vicnews.com
