Constable Ben Wong-Moon has been with the VPD for 22 years, and in that time has been determined to go above and beyond to support Vancouver’s vulnerable youth. He has spent much of his career with his eyes wide open, looking for the next opportunity to change a young life.
Most recently, he identified an opportunity to merge his passion for supporting Vancouver kids with his time spent patrolling Vancouver’s waterways as a member of the VPD’s Marine Unit. Ironically, he initially came up with this idea before even joining the Marine Unit.
As a School Liaison Officer at Churchill Secondary a few years ago, Ben attended a student leadership trip to Camp Jubilee located on the water just outside of Vancouver. Wanting to introduce the students to police officers other than himself, he also invited the VPD Marine Unit to attend to provide boat rides. It was a huge hit with both the students and teachers in attendance.
“The students had a blast and I saw firsthand how barriers could be broken down and altered through a one-time experience,” explains Ben. “I also witnessed the teachers not only having a great bonding experience with their students, but also fully appreciating the VPD’s involvement in it.”
This was the moment when Ben realized that this unique activity with the Marine Unit could be replicated closer to home, allowing other School Liaison Officers and VPD youth workers an opportunity to give this experience to deserving youth they work with. Ben also wanted to enhance it further, taking more time with each teen, engaging in teachable moments, and even sharing a meal together.
With funding support from the Vancouver Police Foundation, Ben’s vision for a unique, experience-based youth program with the Marine Unit became a reality earlier this year. Aptly named ‘Project Drogue’ – a marine term referring to a sea anchor which stabilizes the boat to ensure it doesn’t drift too far off course – this initiative hosts specially selected at-risk youth and youth leaders to a once-in-a-lifetime day on the water alongside Ben and his Marine Unit colleagues.
“So many of the young people I’ve worked with just needed some attention and guidance from trusted adults to point them on the right path,” says Ben.
Project Drogue participants receive the opportunity to board a police vessel, receive a tour of the Harbor, Ports and False Creek, learn maritime skills and water safety, and share a snack or meal at Granville Island with the officers. They will do this with the police member who nominated them, with whom they already have some degree of rapport. All participants also receive a piece of VPD Marine Unit clothing to take home.
“Having been a School Liaison Officer and a Youth Outreach Worker, I cannot overstate the importance of positive interactions between youth and police officers, as well as the overwhelming benefits of shared, new experiences”, explains Ben. “I felt that there was an important opportunity here to provide an additional and truly valuable tool to our SLOs, probation officers, and youth workers. I wish this program would have been available when I was a youth worker.”
For the at-risk youth participants, Project Drogue is an opportunity to develop rapport with their support workers and see other uniformed police members in a good light, potentially changing minds about the negative views of police portrayed in the media or of past police interactions.
For the youth leader participants, Project Drogue is a chance to reward youth who volunteer and are contributors in their communities. It also provides time for meaningful conversations that could range from career-minded questions to what to do if you or someone you know is a witness or victim of crime.
Ben and the VPD Marine Unit have committed to 10 Project Drogue trips per year, with 3-6 youth on-board alongside Ben and other senior members of the Unit.
“When I first became a police officer on patrol with the VPD it was exciting and challenging going call to call in helping people in crisis,” says Ben. “It was amazing being part of a high-level team, VPD’s ERT, during critical incidents, protecting citizens and at times saving lives and keeping people safe.”
“Despite all that, I’ve found that the most rewarding and meaningful work I’ve done was whenever I was being positive and proactive working with young people. I can’t measure the impact of my work, but it just feels like helping point youth in a better direction, by being kind, helpful and present, goes much further than any other police interventions I’ve done.”
The Vancouver Police Foundation supports programs and initiatives that fall within three streams: community outreach and engagement (including programs for women, youth and seniors); public and personal safety; and specialized equipment and technology. You can help make Vancouver safer for all by donating to the Vancouver Police Foundation.
