Sean De Melo – CCSJ practicum 2011 student blog

Shift 2:

Today to start off I went to district 1, where I met 2 officers that would take me to another office of district 1 where only about a couple work in. I worked with about 5 Officers today, but mostly with just two. There was a Transit Police who worked with us today, too. At around 9:30 I and two officers went to a probation meeting. The head guy there (I’m assuming he was) gave me a little tour of the building. Afterwards I had got to do a ride along with one of the officers, and he showed me "crack shacks," which are pretty much houses where they had went to that had drug dealers. We did a check up at one house and went back to the office. Shortly after that, me, one officer, and the transit officer did walking patrol around the SkyTrain, the mall, and the park. They told me about the area and how it used to be really bad 6 months ago before they put that office there and cleaned it up. For the times we weren’t out, they would do paper work in the office where I would just observe. Today was a pretty slow day for events but it was still exciting and a good experience nonetheless. Another shift well enjoyed! Oh yeah! They also gave me a bullet proof vest to wear which was pretty sweet as well!

Sean De Melo is a 21-year-old criminology student from Kitimat currently finishing up the Community, Crime and Social Justice (CCSJ) program. He hopes to pursue a career with the municipal police in Vancouver.