Today we are thrilled to profile VPD Recruit Tamsen Wilkinson whose journey with the VPD started when she was just 15 years old at Killarney Secondary. It was pure coincidence, or perhaps fate, that drew her to the then newly established VPD Cadets program as a grade 10 student in the spring of 2014.
She just happened to walk into the school from a gym fieldtrip through doors that she would never usually use, and she walked down a hallway she rarely went down. It was in that hallway that there was a table set up with information about a brand new VPD Cadet program and a VPD Sergeant talking to students who were interested. Tamsen learned about Cadets and how the program, with its focus on youth leadership, would include everything from physical activity to team-building to tours of the VPD.
“At that time, I still had no idea what I wanted to do in school or as a career, so I was really interested in signing up for Cadets just to see what it was all about.” Tamsen did just that. She applied for the inaugural year of the VPD Cadet program and was one of 61 successful applicants out of a pool of 300.
Tamsen spent the next two years learning, growing, and connecting with her fellow Cadets and Instructors.
“The Cadets changed my life in so many ways. It allowed me to explore a career that I hadn’t previously considered, I met many life-long friends, and the amazing Cadet Instructors became like second parents to me. I also met my boyfriend during my first year in the program and we are still together today – eight years later.”
In addition to building special relationships, Tamsen will enthusiastically tell you how valuable it was to learn about respectful and encouraging leadership and communication. This laid the foundation for teachings around teamwork and trust.
“I’ve been on teams that work well together before, but this was an almost ‘mind-reading’ level of teamwork that us teenagers were able to develop by working together. It was just so fun having that connection with such a large group of people, being able to trust them with your emotions and also trust them with your safety. Cadets also learn to trust themselves which is really important.”
After two years in Cadets, Tamsen graduated as a Cadet Sergeant and then immediately returned to the program as a regular volunteer. She remained a dedicated program volunteer for nearly four more years, until the age of 21 – which is when volunteers age-out of the program. Not ready to walk away from making a difference in the community, Tamsen applied for a paid position as a VPD Auxiliary Special Municipal Constable (SMC), and then specifically as a Community Safety Officer. Tamsen has held these positions for over two years now and has gained hundreds of hours of on-the-job training.
In her position as an SMC, she would regularly assist Patrol officers with their daily duties to enable them to focus on their larger, strategic tasks, and stay present on the road. Duties for Tamsen varied greatly and could be something such as transporting and processing the personal items of someone who was just arrested, to attending a minor car accident to ensure there are no serious injuries and support all parties with the exchange of information and next steps.
In needs to be noted that during her years as both a Cadet volunteer and as a Special Municipal Constable, Tamsen was also attending post-secondary, working on her Bachelor of Psychology degree – which is now nearly complete.
Fast-forward to our annual Breakfast with the Chief event eight weeks ago at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver where VPD Police Chief Adam Palmer had a big surprise for Tamsen. In a moment only four people knew was coming, Chief Palmer invited Tamsen to join him on stage. He commended her for her unwavering commitment to the city of Vancouver and to the VPD over the last eight years. He then turned to her and announced that she was officially accepted as a VPD Recruit into the next Police Academy Class #171 – which she would be starting with 63 other recruits from around the province in just a couple weeks.
“When he suddenly invited me to join him on stage I was expecting him to simply introduce me as someone who is currently in the process of working hard to become a police officer. I thought he was going to wish me luck in that. Instead, he looked at me and said: ‘Tamsen, you don’t know this yet, but it is my pleasure to tell you that you will be in the May class for the Police Academy.’ The expression on my face must have been ridiculous. My jaw dropped. I had no idea what to say and did my best to keep it together. I shook his hand, and I cannot remember anything else he or I said at that point.”
Fortunately, Tamsen does remember what happened next as she walked off stage – she received a standing ovation from the 350+ guests in attendance.
“If I didn’t apply for the Cadet program back in 2014, I honestly have no idea where I would be today. Everything in my life would be completely different. And Cadets isn’t just for teens who are interested in a career in policing. The confidence and life skills the program teaches would have greatly helped me in any career path, not just policing.”
In early 2024, she will graduate from the Police Academy and officially be sworn in as VPD Constable Tamsen Wilkinson.
Congratulations Tamsen!
While Tamsen’s incredibly moving story includes her achieving her dream to become a police officer, the VPD Cadet program is not a law enforcement recruiting program. It is a life-changing leadership program for Vancouver students in grades 10 – 12. Its focus is helping youth become more resilient and focused on all elements of health and well-being. It teaches teamwork, collaboration and peer-to-peer support. The program also features guests who shared their lived experiences with the Cadets. And finally, it teaches tangible life skills such as financial literacy, public speaking, interviewing résumé writing and more. To learn more, visit the VPD Cadets website.
The Vancouver Police Foundation supports programs and initiatives that fall under one of four pillars: Youth Programs, Mental Health & Addictions, Community Outreach & Engagement, and Technology & Special Equipment. You can help build a safer Vancouver by donating to the Vancouver Police Foundation.
