Lindsey O’Quinn, civilian director, 9-1-1 Communications Centre, at York Regional Police.Supplied
During the first two weeks of training to become an officer for York Regional Police (YRP), Rebecca Bachoo, constable, recalls, she found herself thinking, “Oh, my god, what did I get myself into?”
“I had just come out of university and had no structure, no discipline. And then the training yanked me out of that. It was a big mental leap to say, ‘OK, I’m going to get up at 5:30 every morning and I’m going to polish my boots every day. I’m going to push myself physically.”
Bachoo not only persevered through nine months of the sometimes gruelling instruction but also came to appreciate it. “By the end,” she says, “I realized that all of the experiences had made me so much stronger, that I was so much more capable and resilient than I thought I was when I first started. I’m honestly grateful for it.”
Both of Bachoo’s parents are currently in administrative positions with YRP, having both served as police officers there in the past. But what really helped Bachoo make it through the whole training experience was the support of her instructors and other YRP staff.
“The teachers, the veterans, all of the staff were so helpful,” she says. “They talked us through it all, even including the runs and the workouts, telling us that they’d been there, that it gets better. They were always in our corner, pushing us to be our best.”
Lindsey O’Quinn, the civilian director of the service’s 9-1-1 Communications Centre, says YRP’s culture is all about teamwork and mutual respect. “It’s really singular. You get to know people, you get to help people. You work very closely with a variety of different demographic and age groups, and you’re all dedicated to one common goal.
“I joined the service when I was 22, and from the get-go I was respected and provided with a lot of opportunity.”
Now that she’s well-established at YRP, she enjoys being part of a culture that values its recruits. “People come to us very young, right from post-secondary education and into a really intense career,” she says. “One of the most inspirational parts of my job is watching people grow into their positions here.
“We hire for potential, and I think this organization really lets you grow. You’re not necessarily siloed — you’re given lots of opportunity to branch out. If I hire somebody for 9-1-1, they might choose to branch out and learn new things. All of a sudden, they’re looking at research, analytics, information management or leadership roles, or to join the uniform side.”
The service provides ample opportunities for learning, O’Quinn says. “A lot of training is available through the shared provincial and national policing networks. We also train people internally in leadership, professionalism and inclusion. And employees can pursue external opportunities like university or certification programs. In my time here, I was able to complete my master’s with financial support from YRP.”
Based on their own experiences, both women say YRP is a very welcoming place, encouraging new recruits.
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