In April, the New Westminster Police Department swore in six new constables. It was the largest swearing-in ceremony in recent memory for the department, according to deputy police Chief Laurin Stenerson, who led the new constables in the police officer’s oath for the final time in his 20-plus year career.
The New Westminster Police Department, like many organizations across the country, is experiencing an increase in retirements, and as the baby boomers, who’ve led the department for decades, get ready to hand in their badge and gun, the department looks to the future to help fill the spaces left behind.
Typically, the department swears in two to four officers every year; six is an anomaly. The new constables, who range in ages from 22 to 34 years are the future of the department. Twenty years from now, these new officers, along with the dozen or so who’ve been sworn in the last decade, could be leading the department.
“So when we look at who we hire, we look at not only those who are qualified to take the job, but for those who will fit in to the organization of the New Westminster police,” police Chief Dave Jones told the crowd at the swearing-in ceremony on April 20.
That being said, the Record caught up with the department’s six newest constables to learn more about the rookies, what they think will be their biggest challenges and what they’re most looking forward to once they hit the streets.
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Gage McLaren
Age: 25 years
Tell me about yourself.
I graduated in Mission. I went to UFV. I actually started off in the bachelor program but then I just got my diploma so I’ve still got to finish that off. I’ve worked in loss prevention for Overwaitea for the last four-and-a-half years, and I was an auxiliary constable with the Chilliwack RCMP. That’s kind of my background and what I did for work.
Why policing?
It’s always been just something I’ve wanted to do ever since high school. It’s finally happened. It’s pretty crazy.
Why New Westminster?
I was born in Richmond and lived there until I was 13. New Westminster has always been a place I’ve liked. I heard they had a really good department, and went on a ride-along. I knew right then it was the spot for me.
What do you expect will be the biggest challenge?
Probably just trying to leave the job at work and not bring things home. My girlfriend is a social worker so I’ve got some support there just because … it’s similar to the job and working with the same clientele.
What are most looking forward to?
Making a difference. It’s exciting and I like exciting things.
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Kyle Jones
Age: 22 years
*Note: Kyle is the son of New Westminster Chief Const. Dave Jones.
Tell me about yourself.
I grew up in Coquitlam. I’m only 22 years of age. I attended Simon Fraser University after one year of university in Victoria. I changed my focus after the first year to switch to a criminology degree. I enjoy coaching soccer. I do high-performance coaching, which is the highest level for Coquitlam Metro Ford, a club that I’ve played for my entire life so I enjoy giving back to the community in that regard. I had coaches who gave back to me so I enjoy giving back to them and the kids as well. I have about a semester left to finish (my criminology degree). I took an opportunity to go and run a retail store. I got promoted at my job and it turned into a full-time job, in which you’re in charge of 20 staff members. I thought that would better prepare me for this down the road.
Why policing?
I’ve been around policing since a young age, since my father is involved and my brother is actually involved in policing as well. So I’ve been around it and it’s always been a job that’s sparked interest in me. I don’t have a TV mentality of what it might entail, like I know what it entails, and I enjoy the idea of helping a community, whether it’s a big piece or a small piece, I enjoy helping.
Why New Westminster?
Same reasons. I’ve grown up around the police department, regardless of dad or my brother, these are people I’ve grown up around. These are people who will push me to do my best but will also be there to support me in time of need. From my understanding, New West is like a family, and I just want to be part of that family and I trust that family.
What do you expect will be the biggest challenge?
I don’t think it’ll be a challenging aspect but I think it’s something that you monitor. That you are always under surveillance, so it’s just always keeping yourself in check. I do a great job of that right now but it’s just something you always have to keep at the back of your mind. That everything you do is always under a microscope, whether it’s from the chief over your shoulder or members of the public.
What are most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to the experience at the academy. Everyone tells me what it’s like but I hear it also changes every block, every time a class goes in there so I’m looking forward to that, and I’m looking forward to getting on the road. Everyone talks about getting off the road and doing different things but I’m looking forward to getting on the road, doing patrol division, seeing what it’s like for the first time, and then maybe eventually in my career moving somewhere else.
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Tunde Olatunbosun
Age: 34 years
Tell me about yourself.
I’m a dad of two girls. My academic background has been doing research and evaluations in the health-care sector. I’m quite pleased right now, I’ve kind of felt this has been my calling for a long time, and after graduating university I just went on that academic path and now I finally have an opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming an officer, it’s nervous. You make yourself vulnerable when you tell people that you’re going to try and make this dream become a goal, and that you’re going to try and accomplish it. It was a very long process and one that I’m happy I made it through and even more happy it’s with the New West police department.
Why policing?
Funny story, growing up in Nigeria I actually wanted to become a police officer and then I almost got hit by a police car, and then that just kind of put the kibosh on that for a while. So I just didn’t really think about it, and even going through high school it was something that was in the back of my mind but it was always something that was kind of a dream that probably never would actually happen. So when I had the opportunity to actually pursue it last year, it was kind of nice to make that dream become a reality because you just get focused on your regular life, you’re working a different career path, you have a family. It’s in the back of your mind but it’s not in the fore front of your mind all the time.
Why New Westminster?
I applied to both New West and Vancouver, and I just felt more of a calling to both departments and I knew cities a little bit better, and New West was a small department so it’s a great opportunity to learn, to grow and get a lot of great exposure. I just felt that this was the department that, throughout the recruitment process I can honestly say this is a place I want to spend a 20-plus year career, and not just say it for the sake of the interview. It’s just something about the city. I know it’ll be a good fit for me.
What do you expect will be the biggest challenge?
I think right now the immediate challenge is just making it through the first block of the academy. There’s going to be challenges but I think you just have to take it one step at a time. So the first step is getting through the academic portion of Block 1 training, the physical requirements, the mental requirements. I think just getting through the first aspects is going to be the biggest challenge because that’s the challenge that I’m facing right now.
What are most looking forward to?
Just the opportunity to serve. I think maybe that’s why I feel like policing is my career calling, I have a heart to serve. So there are very different aspects of serving within the police department but I think serving the people of New Westminster is what I look most forward to. No matter how serious the call is, no matter how small or apparently insignificant the call is, I think just the opportunity to serve the people is what I look forward to the most.
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Lisa Bolour
Age: 24 years
Tell me about yourself.
I went to school for crim first … and I’m currently in school for social work. I always had policing in the back of my mind but I sort of veered towards a helping profession, social work, that sort of thing.
Why policing?
I volunteered for the crisis line (and) then I started volunteering for victim services at the station, and that’s how I got to know the department and everything. I saw more of the policing aspect of things, and then that’s when I kind of knew I wanted to sort of marry these two. I’m interested in mental health and I’d like to specialize in mental health one day but, obviously, there’s so many units so I’m keeping an open mind for sure.
Why New Westminster?
I started volunteering for the department about three years ago, and I got into the VAU unit just because I had heard great things and the training and my aunt actually works in community-based victim services, so she knew the team. She referred me to New West and once I got in I loved the department. As you heard, I started working for the jail, I started volunteering, I started doing on-call work with VAU, I got right into it. The team is really great, it’s more like a family and you really feel that. You hear that a lot, ‘Oh, policing is a family,’ but this department is very tight-knit and I just felt like it was totally me when I got there and I fit in and I met so many people. It’s been really good.
What do you expect will be the biggest challenge?
I’m not sure yet. I have so much to learn so I really don’t know. I’m just excited to get the training and everything, and I think it’ll come after. One thing I’m sure, that will be hard is just work-life balance and detachment, not taking work home. But that’s like anything.
What are most looking forward to?
Serving the community. That’s pretty much what I live for, that’s my personal mission. I never really want to live the same day twice. That’s what I’m really excited for, just really different work.
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Michael Stewart
Age: 25 years
Tell me about yourself.
I’ve played sports all my life. I’ve been in the military, and I just kind of naturally gravitated towards policing. It seemed to be the best fit for me and my interests and what I wanted to do.
Why policing?
I like a dynamic work environment. I like challenges and helping people. I’m not afraid to work hard so that kind of pushed me in that direction but whenever I’ve had to deal with first responders of any sort, especially police officers, in the past … it seems to me they’re empathetic and caring and I know what a difference it can make. I think the right person can make a big impact in certain people’s lives, even just one or two, it just kind of made me think this was a proper fit for myself.
Why New Westminster?
I heard a lot of wonderful things about it. One of my jobs before this was I worked at a law enforcement distribution company, so I talked to a lot of departments and one common theme was I always heard wonderful things about New West from other departments. So that definitely helped propel me towards them.
What do you expect will be the biggest challenge?
There’s a lot of scrutiny on officers and you know even things can be taken out of context or whatever, so I think you really have to know yourself better than the average person and you have to be very hyper sensitive and act in a way in which, no matter what way somebody looks at it, conveys respect and empathy. I think that maintaining that discipline will be, not the greatest difficulty necessarily, but something that requires constant attention.
What are most looking forward to?
The excitement of the job. It’s always changing and you’re just dealing with people in so many different situations that most people never get involved with at all. Sometimes the good times in people’s lives, sometimes some of the worst, and I think that will be really exciting and give me a better understanding of life and society.
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Sandra Tehennepe
Age: 29 years
Tell me about yourself.
Before this, I worked as a correctional officer. My family is from New West so I wanted to work in the city where my family lives.
Why policing?
I have done a lot of different ride-along projects so I got to see, first-hand, what policing was like, and from that, I really liked the variety and being out in the community and experiencing the different types of calls I go to.
Why New Westminster?
It’s sort of the family feel of the department. I really liked it from when I went to a women-only info session. From going to that, and sort of meeting a few of the members, it definitely made a really good impression and made me want to apply, just from the people I met. I went on a couple of ride-alongs as well, so it definitely helped.
What do you expect will be the biggest challenge?
I’m not sure. Probably just getting to know the city more and learning all the Criminal Code and the law and policy related to policing, hopefully my crim degree helps.
What are most looking forward to?
It’s hard to say. I’m really looking forward to, after working in corrections, it’s nice to be out dealing with the public, building a good rapport with the community partners and working as part of a team.
