The City of Victoria says it's reviewing its line of communication after a hypodermic needle was found in one of its parkades and then not reported.
In a press release Monday, the city confirmed that a needle had been discovered by a security guard taped to a hand rail at Bastion Square Parkade on the evening of April 17th and that a police report was filed.
“I think what we are learning is the importance of making sure that everyone on our staff team and our organization knows the proper protocols to follow,” Thomas Soulliere, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities, for the city told reporters on Tuesday. “That is something we are going to be focusing on for the next few days.”
The proper protocol in case of a public health safety matter would be to file it with police and make sure top officials are informed said Soulliere.
VicPD Constable Matthew Rutherford calls the needle finding a one off.
“We have monthly ops council reports that come to the department and this did not make it as there is not a trend of maliciously placed needles aside from this incident.”
Rutherford says police were notified after the scene had already been cleared so there was no evidence for them to continue an investigation.
Police and city officials are being questioned because it was a social media post that brought light to the dangerous needle to the public, not authorities.