Become a Vancouver Police Officer

To be an effective police officer, you are going to need sound knowledge of the law and modern policing methods.

You will learn:

• portions of the Criminal Code of Canada
• the Motor Vehicle Act
• other federal and provincial statutes
• the VPD’s departmental policies and procedures

As a police officer, you will evaluate situations based on your knowledge, experience, and available information when determining if a crime has occurred and who committed that crime. In some cases, you will need to exercise discretion and tact in persuading people to comply with directions so that an arrest is not necessary.

At crime scenes, you will pay close attention to detail and make observations on suspects and the crime scene itself. You will gather relevant physical evidence and ensure that it remains safe and uncontaminated. Often, you will be required to visualize and recall an event after the fact so it can be documented accurately, possibly for court purposes.

Police work is not without risk. While high-stress and risky situations are the exception rather than the rule, you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Long periods of routine tasks can be suddenly interrupted by an urgent call requiring immediate intervention.

Today, VPD’s recruits are better trained and equipped than they have ever been. That training and experience will help you evaluate situations to ensure an appropriate response. At times, you will deal with people who are intoxicated, high on drugs or in mental health crisis and, on occasion, people may direct their hostility at you. Again, your training and experience will ensure you are able to respond professionally to any situation.

Remember, with these risks come rewards — although they can’t all be measured in dollars and cents. Saving a life, making a difference, taking a criminal off the streets: these are your everyday rewards.

Whether your playground is the ski hills, the ocean, or forest trails, or you are looking for world-class restaurants, nightlife, shopping, cultural and sporting events, Vancouver can offer it all. Add to that unbeatable and memorable experiences for families, and you realize that Vancouver is the place to be.

We offer two weeks of vacation per year to start, up to three weeks in your second year, and the opportunity to take overtime hours as additional vacation time.

Our extended medical and dental benefits are generous, and our pension plan ranks among the best government and private sector plans in terms of eligibility and monthly payments.

You’ll find gyms in all of our police buildings, along with a dedicated athletic therapist, massage therapists, and physiotherapist on staff.

Our peer support system is second to none. We take care of our people.

After graduation, you will be prepared to hit the streets of Vancouver, however, your training does not end there. The VPD is committed to training throughout your career.

You will have numerous opportunities to develop new skills, through in-house courses, and advanced programs at the JIBC or the Canadian Police College. VPD members also train annually at our state-of-the-art tactical training centre, which includes an indoor firearms range and force options gymnasium.

There is a common bond that unites our officers, even though they come from many different backgrounds and circumstances: We are committed to public safety, and to keeping one another safe. At the end of the day, you can return home, satisfied knowing that you and your team mates have made a positive difference in the world, and in the lives of others. When those days are difficult, you have an extraordinary group of co-workers, pulling you through, lifting you up, and making the world right again.

We take care of our people.