Victoria police will once again take the lead on homicide investigations in Victoria and Esquimalt after announcing it is leaving the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU). The department said Thursday the decision follows a review of its operations, including crime trends, resource needs and opportunities to strengthen its investigative teams. VIIMCU is a regional unit that brings together police agencies from across Vancouver Island to investigate serious and complex crimes, including homicides. The change means homicide investigations within the City of Victoria and the Township of Esquimalt will return to Victoria police. “VicPD is deeply grateful to VIIMCU and the RCMP for their professionalism, expertise, and collaboration. Their contributions to complex investigations and public safety in our communities have been significant and sincerely valued,” Victoria police said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work with them throughout this transition and over the coming years.” The department has not provided a timeline for when the transition will be complete.
