Sergeants - Community Policing - Frontline (Patrol), Experienced Officers

The Surrey Police Service (“SPS”) is bringing an era of modern and progressive policing to Surrey. We are a community-based policing service that is at the forefront of public safety. We are committed to meeting our city’s unique priorities and building a team that reflects the communities we serve. Help us build a new community-responsive police service that will support one of the fastest growing and diverse cities in Canada.

SPS is hiring Sergeants within the Community Policing Bureau.  Sergeants are the first line of supervision in policing and fulfill an important role in ensuring the effective supervision, guidance, and support of sworn officers and civilian staff for optimum community service and officer safety and well-being. 

Reporting to a Staff Sergeant, an SPS Sergeant is responsible for developing competencies within their team while ensuring that organizational standards are met, and objectives achieved. Sergeants are responsible for sustaining a respectful and inclusive workplace and a community-based police service that is free of discrimination, disrespectful behaviour and harassment. They co-ordinate, monitor, and respond where necessary, to front line policing activity to uphold the law, enable public safety, and build public confidence in policing in line with legal frameworks and SPS policy guidelines.  Sergeants enforce federal and provincial statutes, municipal bylaws, and generally maintain law and order and prevent crime. Sergeants may take on an operational specialist role requiring specialist technical knowledge and skills.

Sergeants model the mission, vision, and values of SPS through unquestioned integrity and the sustainment of a visible, credible, inclusive, and respected profile. They have a strong work ethic and are committed to a community-based policing model that looks beyond immediate issues and searches for realistic longer-term answers to complex community and social issues and emerging risks and trends.

Employment Status

Regular Full Time

• Oversees problem-oriented policing initiatives, implements the operational goals that have been identified by the staff sergeants and/or Inspectors, and manages personnel issues in alignment with SPS policies and the Police Act. 
• Provides advice and guidance to team members to ensure responses are delivered within appropriate policies and legislation to achieve the best possible outcomes. Maintains and promotes a respectful and inclusive workplace.
• Identifies opportunities new ways of working through innovative policing. They will apply experiences, learning, and team input to identify solutions to problems using evidence-based practice within area of responsibility.
• Coordinates and controls appropriate front-line responses and investigations, allocates resources, directs activities, manages risks, and reviews progress to deliver an effective response which supports law enforcement and enables public safety. Responsible for OHS communication, training, and compliance.
• Supervises and monitors the handling of information, intelligence and evidence and record keeping ensuring alignment with legislation, policies and guidance which enables effective law enforcement and the initiation of criminal justice proceedings.
•  Facilitates the establishment of goals and objectives for their section and assists in devising solutions for the achievement of these goals.
• Brings forward to management issues and concerns identified by direct reports.
• Deploys members in accordance with Bureau objectives.  Responsible to schedule sworn and civilian staff within their unit.
• Monitors and manages the performance of their team.  Develops and implements effective strategies to identify issues and improve team/individual performance to ensure adherence to professional standards and contribute to the achievement of unit objectives.
• Assesses individual performance, capabilities and development needs and devises appropriate development plans to enable high performance and potential progression.  Enforces policies and procedures.
• Assists with shift briefings, training, and performance evaluations.  Educates staff about regulatory changes and new police technology or methods.
• Prepares reports, maintains logs, and ensures the upkeep of departmental records.
• Supports the review and reporting on team expenditures to ensure the efficient use of available budgets and maximize value for money.
• Cooperates with legal and law enforcement stakeholders and testifies in court as required.
• Reviews police documents and conducts inspections of personnel and equipment.

• Substantive Sergeant or Corporal with 10+ years of progressive policing experience in community policing, investigations, or support services.  

• Corporals must have at least two years as a substantive in the rank and a passing qualification/JSE score (within the last three years).

• Minimum high school graduation with additional public safety training relative to the role of Sergeant.  Able to demonstrate a track record of continuous development within operational policing and leadership. Preference to those with advanced educational courses or degrees.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to set out logical arguments clearly, adapting language and message to meet the needs of diverse people/audiences.

• Able to develop and motivate a team and create strong engagement of individuals with their personal and team objectives and with SPS values, behaviours and strategic priorities.

• Able to review and assess own, individual, and team performance against expected standards, providing objective and effective feedback and ensuring corrective actions are taken where necessary.  Able to coach and mentor team for professional development.

• Able to plan ahead and allocate work appropriately within the team.

• Able to identify key stakeholders and partners, understand potential roles and to take appropriate steps to understand their needs and concerns and develop excellent working relationships.

• Problem solving skills with the ability to identify cause and effect and develop a course of action, drawing on evidence base, designed to target root causes, mitigate risks, and manage impacts.

• Able to problem solve, critically question, and identify potential opportunities to enhance efficiency and/or effectiveness across own team.

• Able to identify, analyze, and manage risk to inform balanced, proportionate evidenced-based decisions.

• Able to manage the introduction of new processes or ways of working at team level.

• Skilled in using specialized software related to own area of work to extract, analyze, plan and report on data.

• Able to develop and maintain professional resilience and wellbeing in oneself and others in dealing with complex and challenging situations.

• Able to maintain composure and deal effectively with others and quickly build relationships, trust and rapport with team, peers, and the public.

• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and provincial legislation and municipal bylaws along with a solid understanding of use of force legislation and practices including powers of arrest and search. 

Up to date and current on all use of force options training requirements with their current police department.

Able to work shifts (including extended workdays (12+ hours) and rotating schedules) fully operational and fit for duty. This includes the following abilities and requirements:

• Licensed and able to operate a Police vehicle and attend calls for service.

• Qualified and able to use issued force options as and when required (i.e. baton, OC, firearm).

• Trained and able to engage the public in a variety of circumstances, including physical contact, when required.

• Able to wear protective equipment, including body armour.

Conditions of Employment 

• Successful Applicants must obtain and maintain the required level of Security Clearance.

• Successful applicants must provide proof of qualifications.

This position is unionized represented by the Surrey Police Union and works a 40-hour/week. The salary range for this position is:

Interested applicants are asked to apply online to our Careers page.  For updates on recruitment opportunities and other Surrey Police Service news, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Applicants under consideration will be required to undergo a security clearance process.

Thank you for your interest in working with SPS. We pride ourselves on hiring members that model the mission, vision, and values of SPS through unquestioned integrity and sustaining a visible, credible, inclusive, and respected profile.