Career Planning
At-risk teens work with police and become law enforcement's 'best ambassadors'Crime-fighting youth say 'YIPI'Ask one of the 300 teens who've worked with Toronto Police Service over the past few summers to describe their experience in just one word and they might just reply: "YIPI." LINDA WHITE -- Special to the Toronto Sun |
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Toronto Deputy Chief Keith Forde leads a hugely successful program which encourages youth to work in policing and related fields.
The Youth In Policing Initiative, a program that opens the door for at-risk youth to land meaningful jobs, has earned a resounding stamp of approval.
"Despite having to get up at 6 every morning, it was so enjoyable," says Amy Fong, who participated in the 2006 program. "It felt so good to be able to help my community. I got to see what police officers do and it's a lot more than arrests and guns.
"I got to work alongside them and see how much they do for the community," Fong says. A second-year student at the Ontario College of Arts & Design in Toronto, she is working as a crisis line counsellor with the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre this summer. "I was really lost in high school, but now I am definitely aiming for policing."
The program, launched in 2006, is a partnership between the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Toronto Police Service Board and Toronto Police Service. Originally intended to be a three-year program, it has been extended indefinitely.
"Giving employment to youth from these neighbourhoods who would not otherwise have employment has a huge impact," says Deputy Chief Keith Forde, head of the program and human resources. But the initiative was met with skepticism by some.
"We met with community leaders from 15 priority neighbourhoods and told them we wanted young kids with clean records who wanted to work with the police," Forde says. "They told us we would be lucky to get 15 kids ... I left the meeting dejected, but only temporarily. In six days, we received more than 1,150 applications. This is our third year and we're averaging 500 to 600 applicants a year."
Nineteen-year-old Kemesha Gruber made such an impact that she has been hired for three consecutive summers. "For me, there was no hesitation about applying because I didn't care about what others thought. I didn't know what to expect, but everyone has been just awesome and made me feel so welcome."
She works in fleet and material management at the Jane Street garage, where her responsibilities include filing, faxing and completing work orders. She is taking justice studies at the University of Guelph-Humber and dreams of becoming a lawyer. "I've learned lifelong lessons through this job, including how to change a tire," Gruber says. "I've learned how to co-operate with others and to work in a team environment."
Of the 200 youth who completed the program by the end of last summer, five are attending college -- two in police foundations programs -- and nine are in university; 33 intend to apply to the police services -- 20 as police officers and the remaining 13 as civilians -- and 66 have volunteered with the police services. One has joined as an auxiliary officer.
The initiative is equally beneficial for police, who gain a better understanding of youth and their communities. "We're developing a culture of understanding and acceptance," Forde says. "These youth are our best ambassadors in their neighbourhoods."
The program is earning a reputation across the continent. "There isn't a week that a police service in the United States isn't calling about this," Forde says. "This is not a good program; this is an excellent program. This organization is better because of these kids."
YOUTH IN POLICING
Under the Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI), students aged 14 to 17 are placed in summer jobs with each
of the 17 divisions and the various departments of the Toronto Police Service, including the marine unit, forensic identification services, community mobilization and traffic services. The initiative is one component of the province's three-year $28.5 million Youth Opportunities Strategy, a broad plan to help young people faced with significant challenges achieve success.
linda.white@rogers.com
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