| "There Are Also Many Moments of Laughter" |
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In the spring of 1991, I was walking West Vancouver’s scenic ocean-side Seawall and recognized the West Vancouver Police Department. What an interesting line of work, certainly not your conventional office I thought. A few weeks later I answered an advertisement for a temporary position with the West Vancouver Municipal Hall and filled that position. Just as my temporary assignment was coming to an end, I was offered an interview at the police department. Excited but nervous, I experienced one of the most enjoyable interviews ever. I obtained security clearance and that was the beginning of 17 years thus far.
Born in Vancouver and growing up in North Vancouver, I was a graduate of Carson Graham Secondary High School. Anxious to get to work, other professions included fields in banking and advertising before coming to the West Vancouver Police Department.
As a long-term civilian member currently operating in the Information Services Unit of West Vancouver's Municipal Police Force my duties encompass reading and assessing crime report files for content and quality, ensuring the files are accurately coded for statistic retrieval purposes; ensure complete and accurate prosecution reports are forwarded to various Crown Counsels; prepare and maintain a variety of files, reports, records and correspondence; provide information and liaise with both internal and external contacts; assist the police officers in their investigations; and offer my experience to the training of new civilian members assigned to the Unit. The never-ending variety is very appealing.
In this specialized field of clerical work, there is always something new to learn about policing and our legal system. As such many courses and workshops have been offered to me over the years. How thrilling that in September of 2007, I was asked to participate in a one week workshop in sunny Sacramento, California.
Albeit a serious, and challenging line of work, there are also many moments of laughter. Who says the Police don’t have a sense of humor?
Police Clerk, 17 years |