With a rapidly growing population, five policing districts, and a land mass two and half times bigger than Vancouver, the City of Surrey can be a daunting place to learn policing. Fortunately, the Surrey RCMP’s Field Coaching Program is in place to teach new police officers the ropes when they arrive at the largest RCMP detachment in the country. After completing the rigorous training at the RCMP’s Depot Academy in Regina, all new RCMP officers are coached and mentored by experienced police officers as part of the RCMP’s Field Coaching Program. In Surrey, the goal of this program is to produce competent, technically-sound police officers who are able to efficiently respond to any situation they encounter in the City of Surrey. This six month “on the job” training program shows new officers what they can expect once they hit the road as General Duty patrol officers. Each new officer is paired up with a “field coach” officer who mentors them throughout the duration of the program. Constable Manny Sidhu is the current Field Coach for Constable Maxime Jacob, a 27 year old from Gatineau, Quebec. “The most satisfying part for me is when they put into practice something we’ve been discussing and it results in a positive outcome – whether that’s a good arrest or the proper discretion being applied,” says Cst. Sidhu, who’s been with the Surrey RCMP for four years. Cst. Jacob has been enjoying the fast-paced training and the natural rapport with his Field Coach. “I can ask him anything – he’s very open-minded and constantly giving me feedback,” says Cst. Jacob. “He’ll even test me using scenarios he has dealt with before to see if I can figure out the best course of action.”
Photo (l-r): New Surrey RCMP officer Constable Maxime Jacob (in police cruiser) with his Field Coach, Constable Manny Sidhu
