Support for Vancouver Island police pours in from across the country

Flowers lay at the entrance to the Saanich Police Department.

It’s just one of the ways the community is thanking the heroic and brave actions taken by law enforcement after two suspects were killed and six officers were shot during a shootout outside of a Bank of Montreal branch in Saanich on Tuesday.

“We’re getting tremendous support from the community,” said District of Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes. “We just saw officers running into fire to keep you, I and our families safe, I mean that is the highest level of sacrifice you can ask in sworn officers,” said Haynes

Saanich Police, Victoria Police, and members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) responded to the bank branch, located at the corner of Shelbourne Street and Pear Street.

Police had been searching for a possible third suspect and a shelter-in-place order was in place for residents in the area of North Dairy Road to Cedar Hill Cross Road, and Richmond Road to Cedar Hill Road was eventually lifted. However, the 3600-block of Shelbourne remains closed.

The entire community is left shaken as a result of the incident and that is a major concern for Haynes.

“It’s horrendous, I hope the parents are talking to their children, talking to their neighbours and helping them process this,” said Haynes.

Three of the six officers injured were from Saanich while the other three were with VicPD. Three have since been released but three others remain in hospital. The three other officers suffered what were initially considered life-threatening injuries and underwent “extensive surgeries,” and one officer remains in ICU.

Meanwhile, the suspects were shot and killed by police and fortunately, there were no bystanders injured, according to law enforcement.

Countless witness videos of the incident have been uploaded and shared online — reaching thousands of people within minutes — and reactions have been pouring in ever since.

“I’ve received phone calls from chiefs of police throughout the province…everybody is demonstrating an outpouring of support, high-level support,”said Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie.

Reactions have also come in from across the province and country, including from Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister Trudeau.

“Like many people across the country, I am shocked and saddened by the violence in Saanich, British Columbia. I’m keeping the police officers who were injured in today’s shooting – and their colleagues who also rushed towards danger to keep people safe – in my thoughts,” Trudeau tweeted yesterday.

RELATED: Woman trapped inside Saanich bank with armed men recounts terrifying experience

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