Stephen Harrison
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stephenharrison.bsky.social
Stephen Harrison
@stephenharrison.bsky.social
430 followers 160 following 750 posts
Victoria, B.C. needsmorespikes.com
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stephenharrison.bsky.social
Stephen Harrison @stephenharrison.bsky.social · Apr 8
Sometimes I file freedom of information requests. Here’s a thread with some of those past FOIs (mostly VicPD). If you have an idea and need help filing your own, I’m happy to try to assist! #yyj #cdnfoi
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
garthmullins.bsky.social
Bollocks! Drug seizures lead to MORE overdoses. During Task Force Barrage, I reversed 3 ODs. At one, a cop threatened to arrest me for being in the way - after I saved the guy. Our Mayor is full of shite. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
Vancouver mayor credits DTES task force with reducing overdoses. Here’s what public health experts say
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim continues to laud the impacts of a police-led task force focused on crime on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, claiming it led to a reduction in overdoses.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
This answer seems incorrect. Rejected financial analyst position is back, but they're calling it a "reclassification." "Electrification of the fleet," rejected as discretionary, is also mentioned. More ambiguous, there are probably also discretionary reserve transfers for retirements, also rejected.
susankimyyj.bsky.social Susan Kim 김수잔 @susankimyyj.bsky.social · 5d
Hammond: Are there items the Province rejected in the 2023 appeal that are put into 2026 budget?

Chief: No.
November 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
stephenharrison.bsky.social
A VicPD officer got a verbal reprimand for slamming someone's head into the ground after they were in handcuffs. I did some reporting on VicPD's use of force on people in handcuffs here. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/use-of-... VicPD is trying to suppress releasing future use of force datasets. #yyj
Ordered Investigation - Requested by Department OPCC 2024-25233 Upon request from the Victoria Police Department (VicPD), the Commissioner ordered an investigation into the conduct of a VicPD member. It was reported that after an affected person had been arrested and placed in handcuffs on the ground, the member used force and struck the affected person’s head against the ground. Allegation 1 The member intentionally or recklessly used unnecessary force on the affected person in the performance of their duties. DISCIPLINARY/CORRECTIVE MEASURE Verbal reprimand Disciplinary Process – Prehearing Conference At the conclusion of the investigation, the Discipline Authority found that the member appeared to have committed misconduct. The Discipline Authority determined that that force used was unreasonable and disproportionate in the circumstances. A prehearing conference was offered and accepted. The Prehearing Conference Authority classified the misconduct as moderate, but noted the member expressed remorse and regret for their inappropriate actions. The OPCC reviewed the proposed disciplinary/corrective measures and determined that further review was not required and the discipline imposed was appropriate in the circumstances.
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
kwardvancouver.bsky.social
“a [VPD] member attended a high school to provide a presentation on policing, following which the member exchanged emails with a female student regarding a career in policing. After the student had graduated high school, the two became engaged in an intimate relationship”
opcc.bc.ca/wp-content/u...
Upon request from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the Commissioner ordered an investigation into the conduct of a VPD member. It was reported that the member attended a high school to provide a presentation on policing, following which the member exchanged emails with a female student regarding a career in policing. After the student had graduated high school, the two became engaged in an intimate relationship. The investigation showed that the member had lied to the female about their age and was verbally and emotionally abusive towards her. The member developed an inappropriate relationship with the female which included the member’s behaviour towards the female during their relationship. MISCONDUCT Discreditable Conduct Conduct that discredits the department DISCIPLINARY MEASURE Dismissal Date of Incident: 2018-2022 Process At the conclusion of the investigation, the Discipline Authority found that the member appeared to have committed misconduct. No prehearing conference was offered and as a result, the matter proceeded to a discipline proceeding where the member admitted the allegation. The member resigned from the VPD before the conclusion of the discipline proceeding. In arriving at the appropriate disciplinary or corrective measures, the Discipline Authority noted the seriousness of the misconduct, that the member was in a clear position of trust, influence, and authority and would have significant influence over the female’s career aspirations. The Discipline Authority also noted the abusive and demeaning behaviour was shown to be sustained throughout the relationship rather than limited to a single outburst, and that the member kept the relationship hidden, indicating he understood the relationship was inappropriate. The member did not request a review of the disciplinary decision. The OPCC reviewed these findings and determined that further review was not required and that the discipline imposed was appropriate in the circumstances.
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
There’s a #yyj police board meeting at 5:00 pm. Will follow along here. It’s the first time VicPD met the legal requirement to post the agenda a week in advance. Maybe the trade-off was “put nothing in there.” Agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard 🧵
VICTORIA & ESQUIMALT POLICE BOARD Public Meeting Agenda Nov 18, 2025 at 5:00pm Boardroom & Zoom 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT a. Territorial Acknowledgement 2. STANDING ITEMS a. Declarations of Conflict of Interest b. Adoption of the Public Agenda of November 18, 2025 Pg. 1 c. Adoption of the Public Minutes of October 21, 2025 d. Board Chair Update e. Committees Update f. Board Member Engagement Update g. BC Association of Police Boards (BCAPB) and Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG) Update - Chair Hayes h. Chief Constable Update i. Deputy Chief Constables Update 3. NEW BUSINESS 4. CORRESPONDENCE (Information Only) a. Letter from Township of Esquimalt to the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General re Support for VicPD’s proposal to establish Satellite JI Program 5. RISE & REPORT (when applicable)
November 19, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD's 2026 budget proposal is outrageous and harmful. I've reposted my email to #yyj council here. I encourage anyone opposed to uncontrolled police spending to write to Victoria ([email protected]) or Esquimalt ([email protected]) to tell them. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/2025/11...
VicPD's budget stinks — Needs More Spikes
VicPD wants an $11 million, 14% budget increase in 2026. Here is my message to council outlining some of the ways VicPD’s budget is harmful and unnecessary, and where to start cutting.
www.needsmorespikes.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
jenstden.bsky.social
It took reporter @kehyslop.bsky.social 21 months of FOI requests and pursuing a formal review of the VPD's denial for info to get the police to release the names of officers who currently staff Vancouver schools. thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Vancouver Police Finally Reveal Names of School Liaison Officers | The Tyee
After telling The Tyee publishing this information would harm police, names and school assignments are out.
thetyee.ca
November 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
VicPD's 2026 budget proposal is outrageous and harmful. I've reposted my email to #yyj council here. I encourage anyone opposed to uncontrolled police spending to write to Victoria ([email protected]) or Esquimalt ([email protected]) to tell them. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/2025/11...
VicPD's budget stinks — Needs More Spikes
VicPD wants an $11 million, 14% budget increase in 2026. Here is my message to council outlining some of the ways VicPD’s budget is harmful and unnecessary, and where to start cutting.
www.needsmorespikes.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
susankimyyj.bsky.social
Watching The Fifth Estate's piece "The political war on safe drugs" then ran to throw more money at @dulfbc.bsky.social for having more backbone and sense than immoral people in power.
DULF LEGAL AID II - The Final Push
Our fundraising just hit a wall: we keep maxing out our incoming daily e-transfer limit of $50,000. But the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) urgently needs your help to keep the fight for drug user r...
www.zeffy.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Here's a thread with an annual reminder that VicPD is overfunded and overstaffed. VicPD likes to say it's a special exception as a "downtown" police force, but they cost more per capita than every other department in B.C., including Vancouver. #yyj 🧵
Yellow background with black font. VicPD is the most expensive police department per capita in B.C. VicPD costs more per capita than any of B.C.’s other 11 municipal police departments or 67 RCMP municipal units. VicPD wants to push that cost even higher in 2026, to $750 per person. VicPD already costs more per capita than the police departments in: Abbotsford, Armstrong, Burnaby, Campbell River, Castlegar, Central Saanich, Chilliwack, Coldstream, Colwood, Comox, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Creston, Dawson Creek, Delta, Duncan, Fernie, Fort St. John, Hope, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kent, Kimberley, Kitimat, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Langford, Langley City, Langley Township, Maple Ridge, Merritt, Metchosin, Mission, Nanaimo, Nelson City, New Westminster, North Cowichan, North Saanich, North Vancouver (City), North Vancouver (District), Oak Bay, Oliver, Osoyoos, Parksville, Peachland, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Qualicum Beach, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Saanich, Salmon Arm, Sechelt, Sidney, Smithers, Sooke, Spallumcheen, Squamish, Summerland, Surrey, Terrace, Trail, Vancouver, Vernon, View Royal, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake Sources: Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, "Police Resources in British Columbia, 2023." BC Stats, "Population Estimates & Projections for British Columbia."
November 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
When VicPD lost some 2023 budget items on appeal, the province said they "did not provide sufficient evidence to support the need." Here VicPD provided incorrect evidence to Esquimalt but says the correct number, down 89% from what they said, is evidence enough. cheknews.ca/vicpd-chief-... #yyj
VicPD not altering its budget request When asked if her error might mean she’d alter her ask since there hasn’t been the 280 per cent spike in crashes Wilson based her funding request on, the chief said no. “Given the 32 per cent increase it’s still my position that we need these resources and we really need them critically,” said Wilson.
November 14, 2025 at 4:55 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Here's a thread with an annual reminder that VicPD is overfunded and overstaffed. VicPD likes to say it's a special exception as a "downtown" police force, but they cost more per capita than every other department in B.C., including Vancouver. #yyj 🧵
Yellow background with black font. VicPD is the most expensive police department per capita in B.C. VicPD costs more per capita than any of B.C.’s other 11 municipal police departments or 67 RCMP municipal units. VicPD wants to push that cost even higher in 2026, to $750 per person. VicPD already costs more per capita than the police departments in: Abbotsford, Armstrong, Burnaby, Campbell River, Castlegar, Central Saanich, Chilliwack, Coldstream, Colwood, Comox, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Creston, Dawson Creek, Delta, Duncan, Fernie, Fort St. John, Hope, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kent, Kimberley, Kitimat, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Langford, Langley City, Langley Township, Maple Ridge, Merritt, Metchosin, Mission, Nanaimo, Nelson City, New Westminster, North Cowichan, North Saanich, North Vancouver (City), North Vancouver (District), Oak Bay, Oliver, Osoyoos, Parksville, Peachland, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Qualicum Beach, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Saanich, Salmon Arm, Sechelt, Sidney, Smithers, Sooke, Spallumcheen, Squamish, Summerland, Surrey, Terrace, Trail, Vancouver, Vernon, View Royal, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake Sources: Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, "Police Resources in British Columbia, 2023." BC Stats, "Population Estimates & Projections for British Columbia."
November 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
sherwinarnott.org
Victoria police overtime budget, alone, is more than most Victoria services get. Their funding is out of control. #yyj c.org/YJp9FN9MPX
Have you seen this petition yet?
Reject VicPD's budget increase & fund community programs, services, & supports!
c.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
defundvicpd.bsky.social
Another way to make your voice heard: Let City Council know you want them to reject VicPDs proposed 14% budget increase, including hiring 25 more officers. Put that money into the community supports and services that actually keep people safe! www.change.org/p/reject-vic... #yyj #DefundVicPD
Sign the Petition
Reject VicPD's budget increase & fund community programs, services, & supports!
www.change.org
November 11, 2025 at 3:51 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
This is a frustrating narrative advanced by some councillors. Under the current council's term, Victoria and Esquimalt axed $902,000 from VicPD's 2023 budget, a 45% success rate that year. Pretty good! The province found VicPD couldn't justify those costs. But it meant councillors had to try. #yyj
Table showing councils rejected about $2M from VicPD's 2023 budget and won $902,000 at appeal, a 45% success rate. Appeals for the 2025 budget are still outstanding.
November 8, 2025 at 4:55 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
My sci-fi dreams of waking up to a world where all crosswalks are marked drifts further away.
susankimyyj.bsky.social Susan Kim 김수잔 @susankimyyj.bsky.social · 18d
Kim motivates about returning $64k to crosswalk budget. It represents approximately 1 or 2 crosswalks, and the program remains robust, so Kim seconds amendment from Alto to remove this from the budget.

[Man, I am not on my being informed game because I'm so keen to see no cuts.]
November 8, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
bntly.ca
... It's sad to see us at risk, again, of losing solid well loved programs to austerity budgeting and the apparent black hole that is the Vic PD Budget.. *sigh* #yyjpoli #yyj - I wish we'd be FAR more creative with this then 'cutCutCut'.
Mom, Can we stop and get some "Progressive Budget" ? Mom: We have "a budget" at home "The Budget" at home. Committee of the Whole Report For the Meeting of November 7, 2025 To: Committee of the Whole Date: October 24, 2025 From: Susanne Thompson, Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Subject: 2026-2030 Draft Financial Plan
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
jameswsthomson.com
The City of Victoria might slash grants and programs across the board to make up for one single line item that's roughly equivalent to everything being cut. Can anyone guess what that single budget item is, which apparently isn't even up for debate? One guess.
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
eikonos.bsky.social
I don't believe that city councillors are increasing the police budget because the province would only do it anyway. Instead, I believe that city councillors are choosing to increase the police budget, and then saying the province would do it as a way to deflect responsibility and criticism.
November 6, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
eikonos.bsky.social
I've seen it suggested that city council should approve the dramatic increase in the police budget because the province will step in and overrule them.

City council should deny the increase rather than complying in advance.

Make provincial politicians take responsibility if they want to.
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 PM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Journalists shouldn't be charged commercial rates to file FOI requests. It's wild some jurisdictions (VPD, Squamish) are trying to administer the law this way, creating another barrier to access public information. #cdnfoi
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
eikonos.bsky.social
In #yyj police are also defunding our cities like a vampire consuming the budget of other city departments. We need some councillors with the courage to stand up and stop this cycle of ever-increasing police budgets.
jmcelroy.bsky.social Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 22d
Some breaking news: in a special Vancouver Police Board meeting only announced over the weekend, the police board has requested a $50 million increase to their budget for 2026.

This comes as other departments across the city are trying to cut staff to ensure a property tax freeze for next year.
November 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
stephenharrison.bsky.social
Yesterday's Last Week Tonight speaking to my interest in dead former premiers.
Screencap from Last Week Tonight. John Oliver is on the right. On the left is a screenshot from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, dated 2005, about John Oliver. Excerpted text below reads "premier of British Columbia." Photo of the grave of Premier John Oliver, a rectangular stone marker. Text reads: In loving memory of Hon(est) John Oliver. Premier of B.C. March 6 1918 to August 17 1927. Born July 31, 1856, died August 17, 1927. His body sleeps in fitting place as kinsman of the flower and sod. His soul in heaven's abounding grace rests in the bosom of his God. Elizabeth Oliver born August 2, 1859, died August 31, 1952. The Lord will guide thee continually. Text on the front side of the marker reads "Oliver."
November 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
kwardvancouver.bsky.social
the police want $17,000,000 more for THIS YEAR'S budget

something shady is happening with this process

cc @isabellazavarise.bsky.social

@copevancouver.bsky.social @onecityvan.bsky.social

council.vancouver.ca/20251105/doc...
THAT Council approve a permanent 2025 budget increase of $2.2 million to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) to match the final 2025 fringe benefit rates, to be transferred from the General Government contingency budget. B. THAT Council approve a permanent 2025 budget increase of $0.8 million to the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Department (VFRS) to match the final 2025 fringe benefit rates, to be transferred from the General Government contingency budget. C. THAT Council approve a one-time 2025 budget increase of $1.9 million to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) for unanticipated public safety costs related to protests and demonstrations, to be funded through General Stabilization Reserve. D. THAT Council approve a one-time 2025 budget increase of $5.0 million to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) for Task Force Barrage initiative, to be funded through General Stabilization Reserve. E. THAT Council approve a one-time 2025 budget increase to address the forecasted Vancouver Police Department (VPD) budget deficits for a total of $7.9 million, to be funded through General Stabilization Reserve. F. THAT Council approve a one-time 2025 budget increase to address the forecasted Vancouver Fire Rescue budget deficits related to fleet maintenance costs for a total of $3.8 million, to be funded through General Stabilization Reserve.
November 1, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Reposted by Stephen Harrison
kwardvancouver.bsky.social
"ohno Imperial Walkers!"

shit is bleak and if anyone could spare a few bucks to me out with basics, everything is super appreciated

etransfer: [email protected]

here is a GIF
a pixel art of a monkey giving a fist bump
Alt: side eye meme monkey is scared of the approaching AT-ATs on ice planet Hoth
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:14 PM