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Before incorporation, policing in the dockyard and village was carried out at different times by the Dominion Police, the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. After 1912, this task was undertaken by the Esquimalt Municipal Police, the Esquimalt Police-Fire Department and the Victoria Police Department. Early police constables were also unofficially responsible for fire protection as the Fire Marshall position was held by the Police Chief. In September 1943, Council informed the Board of Police Commissioners that police officers would also be the official firefighters for the municipality. In 1957, the title Police-Fire Chief replaced Police Chief and Fire Marshall.

The Esquimalt Police-Fire Department was one of the few dual police-fires services in Canada. The force withstood many challenges from within the department and from both council and taxpayers to separate. In 1964, the police union tried to negotiate itself out of firefighting duties. Difficulties surfaced again in the late 1970s after a major fire. These difficulties were temporarily solved with more personnel and better training for all members of the department. Another change took place in the 1980s when a designated police officer with no firefighting responsibilities was authorized to serve on every shift.

In 2002, at the request of Mayor Ray Rice of Esquimalt and Mayor Alan Lowe of Victoria, the Solicitor General, the Honourable Rich Coleman announced the separation of the dual force. The policing of Esquimalt became the responsibility of an amalgamated City of Victoria and Township of Esquimalt police force under the guidance of the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board. Mayor Darwin Robinson of Esquimalt (newly elected in 2002) reversed a similar plan to amalgamate fire services and instead approved the formation of the Esquimalt Fire Department in 2003.

Sherri Robinson is a fifth-generation Esquimalt resident, the great-great granddaughter of pioneers James and Elizabeth Bland who established the Halfway House on the old Esquimalt Road in 1859. An Esquimalt High School grad, she is a researcher, writer, genealogist, storyteller and historian. Sherri is the Volunteer Archivist for the township and has more than 40,000 hours of volunteer time spanning over thirty years to her credit. She conceived and wrote seven Township Walking Tours. She is the author of "Esquimalt Street and Roads: a History" published in 1995 and "Esquimalt Centennial 1912-2012". She also wrote and performed a one woman play, Passion and Intrigue in Old Esquimalt Village. She is a member of the Old Cemeteries Society and participates as a tour guide at Ross Bay Cemetery. Sherri chaired the Esquimalt Heritage Advisory Committee for at least 10 years. She is the recipient of two Hallmark Society communication awards and in 2010 she received the Esquimalt Medal of Merit for service to the community. Sherri and her husband Darwin, have four adult children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, and live in a 1911 heritage home on historic Old Esquimalt Road.

Margaret Allen (McCulloch) was born on Mar. 20, 1927 in Saskatoon. Married June 26, 1947 to William S. Allen and had 3 children. Mrs. Alllen volunteered for many causes. These included serving in the Tuck Shop at Sunset Lodge, canvassing for the Salvation Army, working with the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary - first at the Esquimalt Branch #172 and later at Trafalgar/Pro Pats Branch #292, regularly helping in the Tuck Shop at Broadmead Lodge and at the veterans' birthday parties at Broadmead.

Alice is the daughter of Mrs. W. H. Booth who lived at 923 Esquimalt Rd. from ca. 1920-1935, renting the house that belonged to the Wolfenden family. Mrs. Booth married a Canadian soldier in England during WWI. Mrs. Booth started the "Mothers Welcome" group.

Kenneth M. Collison was born October 1, 1922 in Prince Rupert, BC. He married Gwendolene Ellis on March 21, 1944 and had two children: Elaine (b. 1946) and Judith (b. 1950). Ken was a priest and served with the Anglican Church until he retired in 1987. He moved to Esquimalt in 1985 after purchasing a home on Craigflower Rd.

J.D. (Pat) Dunlop (nee Braddock) was born in England in 1921. She later married George Francis Dunlop on March 14, 1945. George's parents were Dorothy and James Somerville Dunlop. The Dunlops were active in community affairs in Esquimalt.

James Robert Findlay was born in Esquimalt, B.C., Feb. 24, 1927. He was a draughtsman for the Municipality of Esquimalt, 1951-1954, a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, 1954-1959, and an employee of the City of Victoria, 1960-1988. He is a lifelong resident of Esquimalt.