Today, on International Women’s Day, the Vancouver Police Department announced plans to further increase its focus on hiring women in front line policing roles, with the launch of a new province-wide recruiting campaign.

The VPD is in the midst of a major recruiting drive and is looking for applicants from all parts of B.C. Currently, about 25 per cent of the VPD’s police officers are women.
“We have come a long way since we hired the first female police officer in Canada in 1912, but we still aren’t where we want to be,” said Chief Constable Adam Palmer. “We want to ensure our police force reflects our community. We are looking for qualified candidates from all areas of the province.”

The department is looking to fill about 80 front line vacancies by the end of the year. This includes police officers, community safety personnel, jail guards and traffic authority members.

“Vancouver is growing and the police department needs to grow with the city,” added Palmer. “Our vision is to be the safest major city in the country, and we want to make sure we have the right people to help us achieve that.”

Earlier this year, the Department released a new five-year strategic plan, outlining their commitment to fighting crime, enhancing public safety, and engaging the community.

More information on qualifications and the application process is available at joinvpd.ca.