A Saanich Police officer, injured during a bank robbery in June, has been released from the hospital, with his colleagues gathering outside of the hospital to support him.
At approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28th, officers with Saanich Police, Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), and VicPD responded to a call that two armed men had entered the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne Street in Saanich.
The two heavily-armed men, later identified as two brothers from Duncan, engaged in a shootout with officers outside of the building.
During the gunfight, six members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, three from Saanich Police and three from VicPD, were shot and transported to hospital.
Three officers were released from hospital following immediate medical care, and three officers who had sustained life-threatening injuries at the time remained in hospital following surgery.
In a July 11th release, it was announced that two GVERT officers with Saanich Police remained in hospital following surgery,
Now, Saanich PD have provided updates on their conditions.
Just after 2 p.m. on August 5th, several Saanich Police officers and members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team gathered outside an exit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital to welcome one of the Saanich police officers who was seriously injured as he was released.
He is set to return home to continue his healing and recovery journey.
It warms my heart to announce that after five weeks of intensive medical treatment one of our injured @SaanichPolice officers was released from hospital into the loving arms of his family, with #SPD and #GVERT officers by his side. #yyj #gratefulchief pic.twitter.com/JCzatkva31
— Dean Duthie (@ChiefDuthie) August 5, 2022
“Today is very special, heartwarming, and inspirational as one of our injured officers is returning home where he can continue to heal and build his strength while being surrounded by his loving family,” said Chief Constable Dean Duthie.
“This officer’s inner strength, determination, and grit continues to inspire all staff at SPD and our community, along with our other injured officer who remains in hospital as he continues to make progressive improvements day by day. We are so very grateful for the extraordinary care, compassion, and professionalism of the medical staff, nurses, doctors, and surgeons at RJH who assisted and guided the healing of our officer to this day.”
