AS the first deployment of 50 Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers nears, the SPS announced on Tuesday that it will welcome its 100th police officer as recruiting efforts ramp up to prepare for future operational deployments.
The SPS said that September 7 is a significant day for it as 25 new officers are welcomed to the organization, including a constable who will be the 100th person to sign into the SPS ledger. This represents the largest single-day addition of staff for SPS. These officers will join their colleagues in advancing the transition of policing in the City of Surrey.
Over the next couple of years, the SPS will be hiring over 800 police officers. To align recruitment efforts with the SPS’s phased deployment into police operations, police personnel will be hired in phases. This fall the SPS will be hiring both experienced police officers and new recruits.
A pre-requisite for any potential new recruit applicant is to attend a virtual information session, which will be held regularly this fall. The first session will be on Thursday, September 9 at 6 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Pre-registration is not required; the link will be posted at www.surreypolice.ca/careers/information-sessions on the day of the information session.
In 2022, the SPS is looking to have approximately 26 new recruits attend the Justice Institute of British Columbia for recruit training. It said that it is important for it to maintain a blend of experienced and new officers for its growing police service.
The SPS is also seeking additional experienced police officers this fall – a job posting for Investigative Services will be online later today (September 7). You can also find information on the SPS’s application process and watch past information sessions held for experienced officers at www.surreypolice.ca/careers. Info session attendance is not mandatory for experienced officers.
As the SPS continues its hiring, it said that the organization’s commitment to diversity in its hiring practices remains at the forefront.
“Surrey Police Service prioritizes diversity, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it builds a healthier and stronger organization,” said Deputy Chief Constable Jennifer Hyland. “A healthy, diverse and inclusive workplace sends a positive message to potential applicants, current employees and to the citizens of Surrey who are our partners in public safety.”
The SPS said it believes it is important for the public and potential applicants to know about the organization and people they will be joining. Here are the most current statistics related to the gender, visible minority and Indigenous inclusion percentages in the organization: