City police aim to inspire others to join their ranks

Const. Pritpaul Bhui was a mechanical engineer looking for something more challenging and interesting. After talking to friends and family, he decided to join the Edmonton Police Service. Now, 13 years later, he said he couldn’t have made a better choice.

“It’s a profession where you get a career within a career,” said the officer posted to the forensic unit.

While launching the new recruiting campaign, entitled Inspired By, acting police chief Kevin Brezinski said Wednesday the organization is looking for people who want a career with a purpose where they can serve with passion.

In 2017, EPS hired 98 officers encompassing diversity, age, various backgrounds and stages of life. Next year, EPS hopes to recruit three classes — in April, August and December — plus one experienced officer class in September, to add approximately 85 officers to the service.

“Reflecting the diversity and makeup of our community is a recruiting goal and we are hopeful this campaign will encourage those who may be uncertain about applying to take that leap,” Brezinski said. “Diversity is our collective strength.”

The police force is looking for people who come from different backgrounds and bring that knowledge, making the force a better reflection of the community, he said.

A first generation Canadian, Const. Michelle Choi joined EPS after a suggestion from her parents.

“I’m very lucky that I got their blessing and pursued this career,” she said, especially since her “culture is not very open to women being put in dangerous situations.”

Const. Joshua Maeda said he joined the force because his father was a police officer.

Maeda, who has been on the force for about six years, said a police career has a variety of different tasks rolled into one and is a great

We are hopeful this campaign will encourage those who may be uncertain about applying to take that leap.

way to give back to the community.

Supt. Denis Jubinville of the human resources division said the biggest thing holding people back from applying to the police force is the belief that they can’t do it.

“If you really want this job, you’ll do it,” summed up Choi.