Correctional Officer

[impactX]

Originally Posted by willystyle

Why would you say VPD jail is more hazardous compared to other correctional facilities in BC?

if any, I would think VPD jail is less dangerous since they only house inmates who are sentenced to 2 years or under.


No, it's not, they are gonna allow you to slap a "L" sign on the back of a VPD vehicle, so that you can escort them to a medical facilitiy.

Also, judging that you only have a "L", I will assume that you are still in your teens, good luck trying to get in while you have little life experience.

VPD jail is run by the VPD (the Vancouver pretrial center closed down long ago and the jail side has been taken over by the VPD from BC Corrections in 2006, the jail itself doesn't house ANY inmates, they only house prisoners who got freshly arrested and are waiting to appear before a JP). Pretrial centers, like North Fraser, house inmates who are sentenced up to 2 years.

Here is the list of hazards:

1) When people get freshly taken off the street, they are usually pissed. So you will most likely be dealing with disgruntled prisoners who aren't cooperative, and you are responsible for searching them, booking them (fingerprinting [up close and personal with a prisoner who just pissed and shat all over himself], and photographing chronic drug users who's been up for days [good luck getting the prisoners to open their eyes and having people sitting behind their desks at 312 Main criticizing you of how much better you should take the photographs]) and telling them that they are not getting out of jail tonight.

2) Cops on the street usually aren't able to do a thorough search on the prisoners, so you pretty much are the first real line of defense against contrabands in the jail. You will find weapons, bunk drugs, real drugs, needles, pins, lighters... all sorts of things. Even if you think you did a thorough search, what you will see will surprise you, such as a prisoner who got fully searched burning his own poop with a lighter in his own cell.

3) Your only protective gear is the stab-resistant vest, try wearing some protective gloves and you will risk not able to feel anything on your hand and not able to do a thorough search.

4) You don't know what disease the prisoners have. The usual ones are Hep C and HIV. With the compromised immune systems that the prisoners have, they usually have TB, which is highly contagious and you won't know until they tell the doctor.

By the time they get to any pretrial center, whether remanded or sentenced, the prisoners / inmates would have been searched multiple times, by the cops, by the jail special constables and by the sheriffs. They get to shower at the pretrial center, get new cloths prior to the transfer. Compared to the VPD jail, the jail is definitely more hazardous in terms of hygiene.

After you've been to the VPD jail, you will find that your garbage at home smells wonderful and you will be able to tell the difference between the smell of rotten feet and the smell of ass.

[willystyle]

So, are you saying that Pretrial centers are better?

[impactX]

I think you will be dealing with a different kind of dangerous environment... eg: you vs a whole unit of 20-40 inmates? And without seniority, you won't be working in position such as control room (from what I've heard from an ex-colleague of mine who worked in BC Corrections and now in the RCMP).

[willystyle]

I'm not gonna lie, your informative responses are giving me second thoughts about going into corrections now.

1 officer to every 20-40 inmates? are there any backup or what? is that the same deal with VPD Jail too?

were you in corrections?

[impactX]

I've worked in the VPD previously and I wrote them a training manual about a year after VPD took over the jail. It's different with the VPD, you will have immediate backup, at the same time, you will also get your hands dirty almost every day because of the reasons I've listed above. Being lied to about having nothing in their pockets and then finding frigging used needles in their pockets are all so common and are part of the risk you have to take. Eg: I got a used needle stick injury through no fault of my own when I was about to leave the VPD, it kinda put things into perspective.

From what I've heard, the inmates are usually pretty well behaved at the pretrial centers and I have heard stories from my then-supervisor (who's ex-BC corrections) that if you aren't an asshole, some inmates would help you if there are inmates who want to harm you. Yeah you will have back up... but most likely from a different location than yours (eg: different unit). You will rely on your emergency transmitter to call for help. Once you press it, other officers will all run to your location.

It really depends on what you are after for your career. Other than the police agencies and BC Corrections, there are also Federal Corrections (the environment is kind of grim according to a buddy of mine who's from Federal Corrections and now in the RCMP) and BC Sheriff who (usually) gets Saturday and Sunday off because the courts don't open on Saturday and Sunday.

If you really want the most fun out of your career, policing is really where it's at as long as you aren't stuck behind a desk. Of course, there will always be dog-fuckers in every working environment; but so far, all of my buddies who got into the RCMP are having a blast and you will, 99% of the time, be posted back in the lower mainland once you graduate from Depot.

[mgarba]

20-40? LOL. Ya right, more like 60 inmates. Places like North Frasier Pretrial are at 300% capacity right now. You will be by yourself on a unit with 60 other inmates, not 20, not 40. Every unit is like that regularly except SEG.

It's a shit job man, if you're looking for a career, look elsewhere. Why do you think they are always hiring for CO's? It's a high turnover job that very few people want to do.

[impactX]

bahaha... and it's going to get worse because of the Olympics... "Cleaning up the streets" and remanding almost everyone.

[willystyle]

Hmm, I guess I'll apply to be a Sheriff then, then BSO, then Corrections as my list of choices.

Anyone have any comments regarding Sheriffs and BSO?

[mrzambaleno]

Originally Posted by willystyle

Hmm, I guess I'll apply to be a Sheriff then, then BSO, then Corrections as my list of choices.

Anyone have any comments regarding Sheriffs and BSO?

DS's earn less than CO's.

[willystyle]

^ I don't know what you're talking about, but according to the BC Public Service website, Deputy Sheriffs start off at 23/hr, and Corrections start at $19, both cap off at $26/hour.

[impactX]

The reason is why? Like everything, you won't last long if you don't think of it as a career.

[willystyle]

I plan to join VPD or RCMP down the road, that's why.

[JDMStyo]

damn that's a rough career...
impactx good info were you a cop/corrections officer before?

[impactX]

Originally Posted by willystyle

I plan to join VPD or RCMP down the road, that's why.

Quite frankly, the process to become a Deputy Sheriff will take some time... probably a year or so as they have cancelled a few classes already.

Becoming a DS won't necessarily help you with a policing career. Eg: If you have a relatively clean background, you become a DS (or any other kind of law enforcement), you get an in-custody death, or any kind of use-of-force complaint, you will be dealing with it (even if you were doing everything by the book) and be grilled about it during the interview with the VPD or RCMP. Just things to think about.

There's no better time than now to join the RCMP. With the accelerated process (if you qualify) and if they hire you providing that you are the right candidate, you will be in Depot in as little as 80 days and you will probably graduate from Depot before even become a Deputy Sheriff.

I know of a person who did not have prior law-enforcement (or anything related to policing) experience but was hired by the RCMP; he was the right candidate with a good background and right attitude.

The background check of VPD and RCMP are pretty thorough; and it's relatively easier to get into the RCMP compared to the VPD because of the amount of people that RCMP hires each year. Don't give VPD an excuse to defer you for 2 years, and then go for RCMP. If you have to do it, apply to the RCMP first and hope for the best that you don't get a crazy female RCMP interviewer.

[willystyle]

Yeah, I've heard they cut back on a few DS classes. My intention was to get into corrections or DS, then gain experience from there (as a stepping stone) then jump into VPD or RCMP in a year or 2 later. I was under the impression that since I would have law enforcement experience then. It would give me the slight edge in going into policing. But like what you were saying, it might not be that beneficial afterall.

To be honest, VPD is my first priority, but I know they aren't hiring as many as the RCMP. There are a few RCMP polices that I'm not a big fan of, so that will always remain to be my secondary option.

Thanks for the informative posts though.

[impactX]

Mark my words, certain municipal police department's recruiting department mentioned above will screw you around, they already did with all my buddies (and we all used to work for the them), all of them excluding me are now in the RCMP.

Unless you are an exempt candidate (meaning that you have a police badge right now and are looking to transfer to that certain municipal police department) and unless you know some senior sergeants, inspectors or higherups who can vouch for you, it will be tough trying to get in.

I know their recruiting tactics:
"oh don't go to the RCMP, come join us"
"oh, now that we got you into our pool of millions of candidates, you still need lots of life experience, so you are deferred, but don't go and join the RCMP"
"oh, seems like you got more life experience now, but you still need this, this, this and this, deferring again for another year or do you want to join the jail? (sweet, now we just need a few more suckers to join the jail so I can answer to the inspector in charge of the court and detentional sevices section that we have gotten almost enough people to fill the void created by the jail special constables leaving to join the RCMP or other departments because we focked them around too much in the recruiting process)"
"Oh RCMP is hiring you? Let us lift the deferal, we will even ignore the assessment center results! You want to come to us now (and burn the bridges with the RCMP)?"

All true stories that I've seen while I was there; and I've already spoken too much. The department itself is good, but the tactics used by the recruiting section is despicable.

Of course, your choice is yours to make, but I've seen the department making a lot of people feel miserable when these people definitely deserved better for their loyalty. Once you get in, it's a different story; but until you do, you will be dicked around by recruiting.

[quasi]

Originally Posted by impactX

Mark my words, certain municipal police department's recruiting department mentioned above will screw you around, they already did with all my buddies (and we all used to work for the them), all of them excluding me are now in the RCMP.

Unless you are an exempt candidate (meaning that you have a police badge right now and are looking to transfer to that certain municipal police department) and unless you know some senior sergeants, inspectors or higherups who can vouch for you, it will be tough trying to get in.

I know their recruiting tactics:
"oh don't go to the RCMP, come join us"
"oh, now that we got you into our pool of millions of candidates, you still need lots of life experience, so you are deferred, but don't go and join the RCMP"
"oh, seems like you got more life experience now, but you still need this, this, this and this, deferring again for another year or do you want to join the jail? (sweet, now we just need a few more suckers to join the jail so I can answer to the inspector in charge of the court and detentional sevices section that we have gotten almost enough people to fill the void created by the jail special constables leaving to join the RCMP or other departments because we focked them around too much in the recruiting process)"
"Oh RCMP is hiring you? Let us lift the deferal, we will even ignore the assessment center results! You want to come to us now (and burn the bridges with the RCMP)?"

All true stories that I've seen while I was there; and I've already spoken too much. The department itself is good, but the tactics used by the recruiting section is despicable.

Of course, your choice is yours to make, but I've seen the department making a lot of people feel miserable when these people definitely deserved better for their loyalty. Once you get in, it's a different story; but until you do, you will be dicked around by recruiting.

So true, once upon a time I was trying to go the route to, it was something I wanted to do since I was a little kid. I got so frustrated with the whole process I said screw it I'll stay where I am and get paid more money working Mon-Fri. It's been about 9 years since I last applied, there are times when I think about trying agian but now I'm so out of shape I don't even know if I could pass the popat or the 2.4k run anymore. I sure as hell have a lot more life experience now at 33 which would probably be a plus.

[willystyle]

.. nevermind

[mgarba]

The recruiting process is definitely a joke. Willystyle, I was in your same shoes when I went down the Corrections road to get experience for the RCMP.

Corrections screwed me over more than anything else you can believe. You have to keep in mind in Corrections and in Policing, one day your Supervisors are your best friend, the next they can become your enemy in an instant, by no fault of your own, it's quite shocking actually.

My story in how I left Corrections would probably make you laugh at how ridiculous it ended out.

I give props to anyone who sticks in out, or ends up in RCMP/VPD, but I find the process for either in themselves a very poor process, which encourages applicants to purposely be untruthful due to the rigid process, and unrealistic criteria.

I always wanted to be an officer personally, at least when I was younger, that thought now has definitely decreased greatly from speaking with officers, and hearing their thoughts of the job however.

[willystyle]

It sounds like I should just apply directly into the RCMP and forget about going into corrections or DS as that might screw me over?

[Gh0stRider]

im looking at federal corrections, since RCMP decided not to take me.

[willystyle]

Mind telling me why you were deferred?

[NSX]

Originally Posted by willystyle

Yeah, I've heard they cut back on a few DS classes. My intention was to get into corrections or DS, then gain experience from there (as a stepping stone) then jump into VPD or RCMP in a year or 2 later. I was under the impression that since I would have law enforcement experience then. It would give me the slight edge in going into policing. But like what you were saying, it might not be that beneficial afterall.

To be honest, VPD is my first priority, but I know they aren't hiring as many as the RCMP. There are a few RCMP polices that I'm not a big fan of, so that will always remain to be my secondary option.

Thanks for the informative posts though.

The think the reason why Sheriffs cancled al lthe classes were because they couldnt find suitable officers. They only recently started recruting and their recruting process is now very much like policing. It use to be that you pay 2grand and take a course yourself, with no gurantee that you will get in later with the department. Now, they are going through a recruting process ie...package, history, SOPAT, Panel interview, BGI, no polygraph as far as i i know.

They stressed that they were looking for the BEST OF THE BEST...which is waht screws them over. Who in thier right mind is going to be a sheriff if you can become a officer? I mean, what do you say to them in a interview...why sheriff and not Police? Your best chance of getting into Sheriff is being squeaky clean with no prvious attepmts to apply for policing. They KNOW for a fact that they are losing massive numbers to the RCMP and VPD. One of the reasons why they are recruting so heavily. People in their department are jumping ship like crazy.

When i was in the process, they sounded like they were some new police force out there recruting only the best of the best, and everyone had to be near PERFECT. The staff sergeants were just so hardcore...acting like they were the new breed in town. But i mean come on...every part of their process and job benefits are inferior to policing.

And because they know you are going to jump ship, their recuritng policy is this: NO FEEDBACK IS GIVEN UNDER ANY CIRCUMTANCES. They will defer/terminate you for no reason given. And not one thing you can do about it. 3 of my friends applied in december...1 terminated , no reason given (application for GVTAPS, RCMP) 1 went to parking officer for vancouver...which pays the same as sheriffs (24$ hour) and one is now a VPD officer....1 month later....go figure...

[willystyle]

What's a parking officer? haha

[NSX]

Originally Posted by willystyle

What's a parking officer? haha

Parking Enforcement Officer.

Give out tickets to cars on the street who violate parking rules..............