Retired officers return to Victoria police amid staffing shortages

Victoria Police launched a pilot this fall allowing recently retired officers to return temporarily to active duty to help address staffing shortages, and Sean Millard was sworn in Dec. 31 after a 30-plus-year career.

Victoria Police have started a short-term pilot that lets recently retired officers return to active duty to help with staffing gaps. The program began this fall and aims to put experienced members back on the road for a limited time. Sean Millard was sworn in on Dec. 31 as a returning constable less than a year after retiring following a 30-plus-year policing career, and he said he "jumped at the chance" to return. Chief Fiona Wilson said recruitment and retention have been challenging for years and that the department is trying new approaches. Key facts: - The pilot program, launched this fall, allows recently retired members to return to active duty on a short-term basis to help address staffing shortages. - Sean Millard was sworn in Dec. 31 as a constable less than a year after retiring after more than 30 years on the force, and said he welcomed the chance to work with junior members. - Chief Fiona Wilson said VicPD faces recruitment and retention challenges similar to other police agencies across Canada and North America. - Dan Jones, who chairs the Justice Studies program at Norquest College, noted applicant pools were much larger 25 years ago and said public perception has become a factor since events in 2020. - VicPD is emphasizing work that involves partnerships with mental-health nurses and child and youth care counsellors and is seeking to portray policing in broader, less action-focused terms. Summary: The pilot is intended to ease short-term staffing shortages while Victoria Police adapts recruitment efforts and public messaging about the breadth of police work. Undetermined at this time.