If you are considering a career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) this is a great time to attend an information session. The force is looking to hire thousands of recruits in the coming years. Information sessions are being held at various locations in the Lower mainland. Langley RCMP Inspector Amrik Virk says, “applicants from all ages should apply, there is no better time than now to apply with the force”. Virk who has been with the force for twenty years is at the top of his profession and enjoys his work. It was his last semester at Simon Fraser University while completing his Economics and History Degree, he spoke with a RCMP recruiting member on campus, who encouraged him to apply. After passing many exams and interviews, he was sent to Regina for training becoming the fourth or possibly the fifth Indo Canadian hired by the national force. Coming from a family of policeman and soldiers joining the RCMP was a natural career choice for the well-spoken Inspector.
Growing up in Williams Lake where he worked in the local saw mill and picked berries as a youth in Abbotsford. He takes great pride in these early experiences of hard work that shaped his path to Inspector. His first posting was in Red Deer, Alberta were he served 5 years as a patrol officer and as a sniper on the Emergency Response Team (ERT). After serving the first 13 years in Alberta, the BC native returned back to his home province and was promoted to Inspector of the Surrey detachment in 2001. Coming back to BC was a culture shock in many respects. The province had changed considerably, when he left in 1987, with the growing drug trade and organized gangs.
Operating in the largest RCMP Detachment in Canada, and along with his other duties, Virk took it upon himself the role of liaising with the extended community on the issue of gang violence in the South Asian Community of British Columbia. Inspector Virk worked extensively behind the scenes, working with community leaders, facilitating dialogue and searching for a holistic approach to solve the problem. The key to solving the problem lay not only in effective and integrated policing, but also in addressing the underlying causes. Virk feels strategies to reach youth at an early age is paramount to longer-term successes.
The cycle of gang culture is still a top priority for law enforcement agencies in BC, which claimed six lives in Surrey last week. Virk said, “ gang violence transcends any borders and we have to tackle it head on. We have to take a hard and fast look on how we approach gang violence. As a society, are we putting enough resources and exploring legislation options”.
His vision and commitment earned him Surrey Leader Newspaper’s Policemen of the Year Award in 2006. He was also awarded the Queens Jubilee Award for his community service.
In 2006, he was transferred to Langley RCMP as to oversee the Operations Branch of the detachment. Most of his days are spent in meetings with staff, meeting members from the community or at times, attending city council meetings planning how to provide effective community based policing. From time to time he can be seen jumping into a patrol car and assisting members on calls in Langley. “Issues in Langley are no different than any other municipalities in the Lower Mainland, which many are fuelled by drug addiction”, he says.
He enjoys working in Langley and in many ways it reminds him of his policing days in Alberta, similar community profiles and a mixture of urban and rural.
Outside of his regular responsibilities, Virk is on the Board of Directors of Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation and on Simon Fraser University Community Outreach and Engagement-Continuing Studies Advisory Group.
At home, he is no different than any other parent, attending various events with his 3 kids. Just fresh back from Turkey accompanying his daughter Jusleen, who is a member of the Canadian Junior National Karate Team and top for her age in Canada. Virk trains at the gym regularly and holds a black belt in karate. Asked on his future aspirations, Virk reaffirms his commitment to his chosen profession and to the community he is currently serving. Be rest assured, you will see much more from this Inspector whether it as a Superintendent in the RCMP or in politics.
KenHerar@gmail.com
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