Asset Forfeiture Team Crime Analyst Sara Lee

Sixteen years ago, as the first VPD Homicide Unit Crime Analyst, Sara Lee found herself having to explain to everyone what her role was and how she could support the investigators.

Today, crime analysts are a common and critical part of most criminal investigations, and after 14 years in the Homicide Unit, Sara Lee moved to the Organized Crime Section, where she provides support in gang-, firearm-, and drug-related investigations. Her work includes sourcing background information on suspects, creating association charts, determining timelines, and analyzing other data.

Sara’s career in law enforcement began after she obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration and psychology. She worked as an enforcement officer at the Canada Border Services Agency, and then for the RCMP in multiple positions, including as a criminal intelligence analyst with the Missing Women’s Task Force, and other serial murder investigations.

Sara is now a Criminal Intelligence Certified Analyst, with an advanced certificate in crime and intelligence analysis. She is presently working on her master’s degree in crime analysis.

For Sara, the most challenging part of her job is managing her workload. “I often have three to five files on the go, and things can change in an instant, so I am always re-evaluating my priorities.”

The reward is seeing an investigation from start to finish that ends in a conviction.

“I also work with really great officers and civilians who make me feel like being part of a special family.”

Mobility Communications Services Support Technician Parveer Gill 

Cell phones have become fully integrated into our world and most people rely heavily on them for communication. Police officers are no different, and it’s up to Parveer Gill, the VPD’s Mobility Communications Support Specialist to keep the 1800-plus VPD smartphones working. He manages the talk/text/data lines, rolls out new lines and new hardware, manages billing and mobile plans, adjusts policies and profiles on servers, and looks after the approval and security of any needed applications and software.

Parveer has been with the VPD for seven years now. He spent his first two years transcribing police reports and maintaining the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database in the Transcription and CPIC Support Unit.

“My only exposure to police departments before I started here was through TV and movies,” he says. “I never truly realized the size of a police department and all the different specialty units. It was an eye-opener to the complexities of policing.”

Along with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a diploma in business management, Parveer’s past experience included working as a mobile specialist at Best Buy, a specialist at Apple, and as a Workplace Improvement Coordinator at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch. His future plans include furthering his education and experience, and moving into more leadership and project management roles at the VPD.

“There are many roles within the Department. You can take advantage of internal opportunities and really find a position that is rewarding, has real-world impact, and supports your career goals.”

Victim Service Coordinator Sandra Chung 

Anyone who has been the victim or witness of a traumatic incident in Vancouver is offered the services of the VPD’s Victim Services Unit. The civilian staff arrange counselling, prepare people for court and attend court with them, give guidance for needed services and benefits, and offer comfort with an empathetic ear.

Sandra Chung has been working in the VPD Victim Services Unit since 2017, first as a crisis response worker and then as a crisis intervention caseworker. Last year, she became the Unit’s coordinator, responsible for supervising the pool of after-hours crisis response workers. She ensures the service provided meets the program guidelines and objectives, which she helps identify, evaluate, develop, and implement.

Sandra also assists with recruitment of new staff and provides training. She is available 24/7 to respond to requests for advice from the crisis response workers, providing crisis intervention assistance and emotional support in response to a wide variety of traumatic incidents.

“The best part of my job is contributing to my community in a meaningful way, and helping folks navigate the complicated criminal justice system,” she says. “I enjoy the challenge of solving complex problems, and I find a sense of accomplishment in finding solutions.”

Figuring out how to effectively fit into this puzzle is not without challenges.

“In the Victim Services Unit, we are a very important piece of the puzzle in connecting with victims, families, and witnesses, providing crisis intervention, and ensuring that their experiences and voices are heard within the criminal justice system.”

Sandra has a bachelor of arts degree in criminology from SFU, and came to the VPD from a background in community-based non-profit organizations. She worked with self-identified marginalized women in the Downtown Eastside, and with people who experienced power-based violence.

Sandra appreciates the strong sense of community and work-life balance at the VPD, and her career plans are to continue working in a helping profession, along with travelling and adventures.

Professional Standards Section Senior Paralegal Despina Heiland 

In July 2019, Despina Heiland left her job at a national law firm in downtown Vancouver, where she had worked for 11 years, to come to the Professional Standards Section of the VPD. After receiving a Paralegal certificate from Capilano University, her work experience at the law firm had included construction, arbitration, insurance, and tort liability matters.

Her position in Professional Standards was brand new, and it took some time to determine her duties and responsibilities. It was specialized work, and at the time there were only a few other municipal police departments who employed paralegals.

Today, Despina’s biggest challenge is juggling numerous deadlines, while managing complex documents, and staying on top of legal updates in policing. She provides legal support in administrative matters involving Police Act investigations and discipline proceedings into police misconduct. That includes public trust complaints, and internal discipline and policy matters.

“I conduct and prepare legal research in relation to the Police Act, supporting the investigators, and the inspectors and superintendents serving as Discipline Authorities,” says Despina. “I summarize and distribute legal updates to the section, and provide procedural guidance in the Police Act process.”

Even from a young age, Despina was drawn to the legal field, choosing Law Studies 12 as an elective in high school.

“I completed my work experience at the Collingwood Community Policing Centre,” she says. “I did consider policing briefly, however, after graduating I realized I preferred to be in an office setting and made the decision to pursue my career in Paralegal studies.”

As for working at the VPD, Despina echoes the sentiment of so many of her fellow VPD co-workers: “The best thing about my job is the amazing group of people I get to work with.”

Human Resources Consultant Morgan Friesen 

Morgan Friesen didn’t see herself ending up working for the Vancouver Police Department. She spent six years working for Earls restaurant, and originally thought she would become a nurse.

“Growing up, I always wanted to be a nurse. I was ready to start applying to nursing schools,” says Morgan. “I was at a significant crossroad in my life when I decided to apply to the VPD in 2019.”

She began working in the Transcription CPIC Support Unit for a short time, before moving to the Human Resources Unit, where she worked as an Administrative Assistant and then a Project Assistant.

Now an HR Consultant, Morgan sources and identifies qualified candidates for the VPD’s civilian professional positions. She coordinates with the applicants by arranging testing, conducting interviews, arranging security clearances, and preparing successful applicants for their first day.

“The best part of my job is seeing a new hire thrive. I take great pride in being part of the process that ultimately brings such great people to work for the VPD.”

When Morgan first began, she was surprised at the importance the Department places on physical fitness and mental wellness.

Morgan believes everything happens for a reason, and she sees herself continuing to grow and learn with the Human Resources Unit.

“I am thankful I have ended up where I was meant to be,” she says. “The VPD is certainly where I see my future.”

Mounted Unit Stable Attendant Niah Prowal 

Niah Prowal is no stranger to hard work. As a teenager, she held down a full-time job at a restaurant throughout her high school years, waking up at 5:00 every morning to ride her horse before school. While studying interior design at BCIT, she continued working in restaurants, until she came to the VPD three years ago.

Growing up in Merritt, Niah owned and competed with horses, gaining valuable experience for her work as a stable attendant for the VPD Mounted Unit. She works hard, making sure that the barn and stables are clean and organized, and feeding and watering the horses. Under her watch, there is always a large supply of food and bedding, along with any other needed supplies for the barn.

“The labour involved, like lifting hay bales, bedding bags, and scooping stalls for long periods of time, can be challenging,” says Niah. “But I’m learning so much about riding and training, and I get to be outside with horses all day.”

Niah was surprised at the amount of training the VPD horses and their riders are given, as well as the level of care the horses receive.

“They truly are spoiled horses,” she says,“ but they deserve it. They have a tough job patrolling the streets of Vancouver.”

“The best advice I ever got was to follow my passion, be open to criticism, and to never stop evolving and learning.”

Transcription and CPIC Support Clerk III Harprit Dhadwal 

A successful police investigation is a sum of its parts — the many different tasks that come together, that most people are unaware of. In her job as a Clerk III in the VPD Transcription and CPIC Support Unit, Harprit Dhadwal makes valuable contributions to investigations, transcribing police reports, processing recovered stolen vehicles, and ensuring the Canadian Police Information Centre database is accurate and up-to-date.

“I find my role really interesting because I get to know the inner workings of police work that isn’t always shown in the media,” says Harprit. “The job is fast-paced, so I constantly need to adapt and find solutions. It’s demanding, but ultimately rewarding.”

Harprit started at the VPD in 2022, after working with the Vancouver School Board and Family Services of Greater Vancouver, with street-entrenched and high-risk clientele. She has a criminology and French degree from SFU.

When Harprit first began working at the VPD, she was surprised at the many opportunities for civilian professionals, and found the working environment encouraged professional and personal growth. She credits much of her success to asking questions and seeking help when she needed it.

“I think it’s important to be confident in the work you do, but it’s okay to not know all the answers.”

Information Management Section Administration Coordinator Carol Bueckert

When Carol Bueckert began as a casual employee at the VPD in 2011, she was transcribing interviews of victims, suspects, and witnesses. Today, as the Administrative Coordinator for the Information Management Section of the VPD, Carol supports 18 members of the section leadership team and over 100 civilian staff.

Her current position has her proofreading reports, creating newsletters, booking travel, producing a variety of reports and documents, and keeping everything and everyone organized. She is the unofficial section cheerleader, with a mission to keep people smiling, engaged, and happy at work.

Carol is well-known for her altruistic efforts to improve the lives of her co-workers and people in the community. She volunteers as the secretary treasurer of the Vancouver Police Community Fund, a charity that provides funding for things like Cops for Cancer, and purchasing gifts and food for families struggling at Christmas. She is also the VPD champion for Jean Up, the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation annual fundraiser, and has helped the Department raise and donate over $28,000 in the last 10 years.

“Giving back to the community is important,” says Carol. “Over the years, my colleagues and I have supported First United Church in the Downtown Eastside, Convenant House Vancouver, Canadian Blood Services, the MS Society, Pink Shirt Day, and the Shoebox Project for Women.”