Constable - Youth Services

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is Surrey’s new municipal police agency. The transition from the RCMP to SPS is well underway and SPS has spent the past three years building a local, modern, accountable police service for Surrey residents. On November 29, 2024, SPS will become the police of jurisdiction, assuming responsibility for policing and law enforcement in Surrey.

SPS is working to redefine policing with innovative new approaches and community-based solutions. It’s an exciting time as SPS continues to expand our team with talented people who want to help shape the future of policing in Surrey. We have already hired over 400 employees and will grow to be one of the largest independent police services in Canada. Since day one, SPS has been intentional about building a culture that is inclusive, respectful and supportive, with a strong focus on employee wellness and career development.

Throughout their career, Constables will have opportunities to serve in more than one SPS Bureau. SPS is hiring Constables within the Community Policing Bureau for Specialized Uniform positions within the Youth Services Unit. 

The Youth Services Unit will support a team striving to promote a safe and healthy environment for youth and their families that supports growth, resiliency, and success. Detective Constables in the Youth Services Unit provide enhanced policing services, including strategic initiatives in elementary and secondary schools. The primary focus will be to build rapport with groups of youth, within the Surrey School District and private schools for incidents occurring on school property during and after school hours and during school sanctioned events. 

In addition to schools, the Youth Team will focus on community spaces where youth gather outside of school hours with the objective of strengthening relationships with all categories of youth.

Constables in the Community Policing Bureau fill a critical front-line role, enabling public safety at the community level. These Constables work in daily partnership with local communities, stakeholders, SPS team members, and other policing agencies (including integrated teams) to promote public safety, community engagement, and community well being to support the quality of life for citizens.

This role carries legal powers to enable the maintenance of law and order and carries responsibility for making decisions in accordance with the BC Police Act, exercising professional discretion, as appropriate to the role, in line with legal frameworks, and SPS policing guidelines.

Constables are required to meet and maintain the highest professional standards required of their role, by conducting all actions in a legal, ethical, and justifiable manner to uphold the law and achieve the best outcomes in a wide range of situations/incidents.   

SPS Constables model the mission, vision, and values of SPS through unquestioned integrity and sustaining 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.

• Develop and conduct risk assessments to determine if youth are high, medium or low risk.

• Maintain intelligence files.

• Investigate or assist, as required, at incidents involving high-risk youth.

• When required, collaborate with family orientated community partners, to provide support for youth and their families.

• Identify, know and participate with community partners to identify community needs.

• Collaborate with community partners on an ongoing basis.

• Utilize resources to make referrals and track progress.

• Liaise with neighbouring police jurisdictions about youth risk and crime trends.

• Engage in problem solving using innovative and relevant strategies.

• Gather and disseminate information as required for efficient resource deployment.

• Attend relevant internal Surrey Police Service meetings such as CompStat to report on projects.

• Maintain current problem-solving strategies based on best practices.

• Be innovative in addressing equipment or resource requirements.

• Maintain “best practices” knowledge/training related to cultural safety, trauma informed practices, social media trends and violence and threat assessment, harm reduction, social media safety and supports for the LGBTQS2 community.

• Proactively develop and participate in formal and informal community-based outreach opportunities.

• Proactively develop progressive initiatives for meaningful engagement, building trust and confidence with youth and their families to develop authentic connection and trusting relationships.

General Qualifications

• Currently a serving police officer in Canada with exemplary police service and in good standing. 

• Has attended and has successfully completed the required police training from a recognized police academy as per the BCPPS. See link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/police/standards/2-2-1p-exemption-process.pdf.

• As per the BCPPS, retired police officers with less then three (3) years into retirement are eligible to apply (providing they had successfully completed the required police training from a recognized police academy, as noted above.

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

• Progressive education in a related field or equivalent work experience, supplemented by certifications and training demonstrating a track record of continuous development.

•  Strong communication skills with the ability to set out information clearly, meeting the needs of different audiences.

• Good teamwork skills demonstrating awareness of individual differences.

• Strong ethics and a demonstrated history of professionalism.

• Able to proactively develop effective working relationships with the community, colleagues, and other stakeholders, understanding their needs and concerns.

• Able to manage conflict and defuse difficult situations.

• Able to review and reflect on own performance objectively and to take steps to maintain and enhance competence and professional standards appropriate to the role.

• Skilled in the use of standard IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements.

• Demonstrated experience in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

• Able to obtain and maintain the required level of security clearance.

Job Specific Qualifications (Youth Services Unit):

• Previous experience working with youth.

• Experience leading or developing proactive projects or initiatives.

The following education is an asset:

• Degree, graduate degree, or recent professional development in a related field.  

This is an operational role so the successful candidates must:

Be 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:

1. Licensed and able to operate a police vehicle and attend calls for service.

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

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

4. 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.

Please note:

Substantive Corporals who are hired as Constables with SPS will be paid at 115% of SPS’s First Class Constable rate, providing they have at least eight years of policing service. They may also apply for SPS’s Sergeant Promotion Process without participating in the Sergeant Qualification Process, providing they pass the SPS Sergeant Exam and apply for promotion within five years of joining SPS.

Our Values

Values of Honour, Integrity, Respect, Courage, Compassion and Inclusiveness guide how we serve our residents, engage with our community, and work with each other to keep our community safe. These values are the foundation of our commitment to deliver excellence in policing services to Surrey's citizens.