New Surrey Police Service recruits begin training
Posted April 25, 2022 6:12 pm.
Last Updated April 25, 2022 7:05 pm.
The Surrey Police Service has begun training the first class of new recruits. The 14 recruit officers will graduate as Certified Municipal Constables in March next year.
The training process involves a two-week onboarding training course with the SPS before 23 weeks at The Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) Police Academy, and finally 21 weeks of field training with the service.
According to the SRS, the first class of recruits is compromised of 11 men and three women. Nine of them identity as coming from a diverse community, and six speak a second language.
“Surrey Police Service’s first class of new recruits were chosen from over 500 applicants. Each of these outstanding individuals display the integrity, compassion and care for the community that SPS stands for as we build a modern, responsive and community-focused police service,” says CCst. Norm Lipinski.
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The group includes a former Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Navy, police victim services workers, a national medalist in wrestling, and a shelter coordinator in Whalley.
In 2022, SPS was allotted 27 spots at the JIBC Police Academy. Fourteen will join the May 2022 JIBC class, and an additional 13 will be a part of the September 2022 class.
In November, SPS began patrolling alongside the RCMP in what they called one of the largest police transitions in Canada.
Replacing the RCMP with a municipal force was a key pledge in Mayor Doug McCallum’s election campaign in 2018, but it also faced criticism when the budget estimated $18.5 million more than the original $45 million estimate.
The SRS will also be accepting applicants for the fall 2022 and 2023 recruit classes starting May 2 until May 23.
