A Victoria enterprise proprietor says he’s pissed off over how exhausting it’s to get assist in an emergency.
Peter Quakenbush owns One Hour Dry Cleaners on Blanshard Road and instructed World Information that over the previous 5 years, when he has referred to as 911, he has both been hung up on or redirected to the Victoria police non-emergency line.
He referred to as 911 after somebody entered his enterprise and took a bathe and when staff have been being assaulted.
Nonetheless, he instructed World Information that final week was the final straw.
“I had a buyer stroll into the shop and stated, ‘There may be somebody climbing the facet of your constructing, Peter, up the glass,’” he stated.
“He had a stick contained in the gutter.”
Quakenbush stated he tried to de-escalate the state of affairs himself, however when he was unable to, he referred to as 911 once more.
“And since he was not bodily within the retailer, he didn’t have a gun or a knife that he was bodily pointing at you and threatening you, 911 stated, ‘No, have a pleasant day – telephone the non-emergency quantity,’” he stated.
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Whereas the Victoria Police Division is positioned about one block away, the problem isn’t with them.
“They’ve received to be instructed to come back,” Quakenbush stated. “It shouldn’t be me negotiating with a 911 operator to please get them to come back.”
In a press release to World Information, E-Comm 911 stated the decision was “not processed in accordance with coverage” and police ought to have been dispatched to take care of the matter.
They stated that “coaching factors” have been recognized to assist forestall a recurrence.
“We perceive how irritating this expertise would have been for the caller and take these issues severely,” the group stated.
“Our employees play an important function in connecting the general public with the assistance they want in emergency conditions 24/7. We would like individuals to really feel assured to name 911 after they need assistance and respect the chance to handle issues as they come up.”
John Wilson, the Better Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO, stated some structural and operational issues at E-Comm have to be addressed, particularly as many municipalities need to pay for dispatch prices on their very own.
“And with that, the expectation ranges of service ranges must be excessive,” he stated. “And press upon them that this wants to enhance.”
Quakenbush stated the price of inaction is just too excessive.
“One thing has to alter,” he stated.
“One among these unhealthy people goes to harm any individual badly and I definitely don’t need it to be my household, my staff, or myself, for that matter.”
© 2026 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
