Policing in a growing Sooke

One of our biggest municipal expenses is policing, so it’s important we understand the facts and plan ahead. An officer and related expenses cost roughly $260,000 annually and since we passed 15,000 residents, we pay 90% of our municipal RCMP costs, with the federal government funding 10%.

In 2010, Sooke had 11 budgeted municipal officers, roughly one per 1,000 residents. Entering 2026, we had 14, about 1:1,300. The BC average for municipalities over 15,000 is 1:805. Simply put, policing hasn’t kept pace with growth.

Sooke is an integrated RCMP detachment, meaning Sooke pays for the officers policing Sooke, while the Province pays for officers serving the surrounding rural region toward Port Renfrew. They work together and back each other up.

That partnership helped us move to 24/7 policing in 2025. But 24/7 doesn’t mean lots of officers are working. Some nights there may be just two.

Residents and RCMP want more visible policing in our community. But visibility requires capacity. Even one complex call can take an officer off the road for days with investigation, documentation and court work.

The 2026 budget adds two municipal officers, including school and community liaison services. The current plan proposes adding one more officer annually, reaching 21 by 2031.

But more capacity doesn’t always require another officer. Policing involves a lot of paperwork. At roughly $100,000, civilian staff can take on much of that load, freeing officers to do the work they’re trained to do in the community.

We have some catching up to do and falling further behind isn’t responsible. We need the officers and support staff to keep residents and police safe, and a realistic long-term plan taxpayers can afford.

Sooke is a safe community. Good planning and smart investment will help keep it that way.