The year since six police officers were shot outside a Shelbourne Street bank has been a time for healing, reflection, learning and striving to move forward for those who were involved.
Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie said the department had to “move through the trauma and really focus on our healing and recovery as a collective, as well as individuals. It taught us lessons about ourselves, about our training, about how we do our jobs.
“I look at that as a positive because it helps us keep learning, keep improving and keep growing in a forward-looking direction.”
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak said that as he reflects on the day, “I’m extremely proud of the officers that rose to the occasion.
“They were running towards gunfire and I believe that this is the highest level that you will ever see of sacrifice, courage and (seeing) who will take action. … You are just not going to see anything more than that.”
Police received an outpouring of support and gratitude from the community and a fund for officers reached $277,000 by August.
That support and love from citizens raised morale among officers, “knowing that their community recognizes what happened that day and the role that police played,” Manak said.
Lives were saved and injuries averted due to the professional police response, he said.
It was late morning one year ago when two disaffected 22-year-old brothers staged a robbery at the small Bank of Montreal branch on Shelbourne Street.
They were heavily armed with semi-automatic rifles and wore protective clothing while holding 22 staff and customers indoors before heading outside to fire on police in the adjacent parking lot.
Dozens of rounds were fired in the shootout. Civilians dove for cover.
Brothers Matthew and Isaac Auchterlonie, of the Shawnigan Lake area, died after being shot by police. No civilians were injured.
Three Saanich and three Victoria police officers with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team were taken to hospital.
One Victoria officer and two Saanich officers have not returned to work due to injuries received that day. All three have long roads ahead in their recovery, the chiefs said.
Duthie said he had individual visits with the two Saanich officers, who received life-threatening injuries. “Their resilience, their drive, their determination is astounding.”
Manak said the Victoria officer continues to improve and is “extremely positive and motivated.”
Citizens recognized the sacrifice of officers, he said. “They stood with us and continue to stand with us.”
At the Saanich police station, no formal event is planned for today, but Duthie said this is instead a week of enhanced appreciation of all staff.
“We are just letting people process the week in the way that they want to process it. We, of course, are here for them.” Everyone will be processing it in their own way, he said.
The journey the department and its individuals have been on since the shootings has been inspiring, he said.
He’s seen “how people have their strength and determination and will to not only build and continuously improve but really fulfill their purpose by serving not only with their minds but with their hearts.”
People in the department feel comfortable to lean on each other for support. “The community has played a huge role in that and in allowing us to keep moving forward.”
Additional services were brought in immediately and remain available, he said.
The community was affected by the extreme incident, Duthie said. “It brought us closer with our community because the interaction, the support that happened immediately after and has continued from that day.”
It has “intensified and reassured us that our community supports what we do and has confidence in what we do.”
Duthie is thankful to other agencies, including fellow first responders and hospitals, saying they played a huge role during the crisis and afterwards.
Officers deal with critical incidents as part of their jobs and it is important that they, and civilian staff, be able to process these matters in healthy ways and that supports are in place for them, he said.
When something like the shooting takes place, it can result in acute trauma and chronic trauma as well. The department paid close attention to that by investing energy and services into health and wellness, Duthie said.
City hall approved a plan to hire a staff member to oversee wellness in the department.
Manak expects today to be a “heavy” day which will bring back memories for staff.
The department’s human resources office is putting supports in place. Two sessions will be held off site with a psychologist and clinical counsellor. They will talk about how people process trauma and steps to help mitigate it and ways to remain healthy.
Manak said it is okay to feel vulnerable, to seek help and experience a range of emotions. The goal is to want to allow people to feel safe and supported in whatever they need.
An informal lunch is planned where staff can chat.
Manak singled out the bravery of bank employees, who displayed composure and professionalism.
Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock said, “I want to convey on behalf of the community our gratitude to those officers who put their lives at risk that day to keep people in our community safe.”
Citizens value, appreciate and care about officers and their families who have been impacted by the event, he said.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said she is respectful, appreciative and full of gratitude to officers who did not hesitate to respond exactly as they were trained to do, without thinking about their own safety.
This was a unique event which prompted a remarkable response from police, she said.
Alto acknowledged the cost to the officers, physically and emotionally.
An investigation by the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit found that the brothers held anti-government and anti-police views and that they did not expect to survive the confrontation.
B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office report said there were no reasonable grounds to believe any officer committed an offence. Chief civilian director Ronald MacDonald wrote: “Indeed, several officers showed remarkable courage under potentially deadly circumstances and should be commended for what they did to protect and then offer aid to their colleagues.”
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