Surrey Police Service (SPS) is building a modern municipal police service that prioritizes ongoing skills training for our officers. As we continue to continue to hire experienced officers from police agencies across Canada, it’s important that we provide our officers with provincially-mandated courses, updated operational skills training, and information on Surrey’s communities and public safety concerns.

All experienced officers who join SPS attend a six-week Onboarding Training Program before being deployed. This training includes classroom presentations, online courses, and hands-on scenario-based training. At SPS it is imperative that we stay current with policing issues and continually develop operational skills training that are evidence-based and have the greatest chance of successful outcome for police, members of the public and subjects of complaint.

At SPS we foster an environment of lifelong learning, and regularly offer courses, skills training, and leadership training for our officers.

Operational Skills Training

It’s critical for SPS to evaluate, train, and develop all officers hired. We provide mandatory and advanced skills operational training that is consistent with British Columbia Provincial Policing Standards. Some of those courses include: mandatory qualifications (pistol, carbine, use-of-force), operational skills user courses (less lethal 40mm, operational medicine, CPR, conducted energy weapon), police tactics (containment, high-risk arrest, building entry and search), immediate rapid deployment (IRD), and NCO Incident Command Level courses.

ICAT

The Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics course, known as ICAT, is a comprehensive training program that uses communications to reduce the need to use force. As part of SPS’s mandatory Onboarding Training Program, officers undergo scenario-based training with professional actors simulating real-life scenarios. ICAT training is provided in addition to the provincially mandated crisis intervention and de-escalation course.

Gracie Survival Tactics

Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu based defensive tactics program that uses leverage techniques if our officers encounter a situation that requires the application of force. GST is beneficial for the community and police as the training promotes avoidance of strikes and kicks, and focuses on the aspect of control. Research shows that this approach prevents more injuries for both the suspect and officer. To support officers in their practice of GST, SPS offers training sessions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu four times per week in the mornings and evenings to ensure training is accessible to all officers.

Classroom Training

To familiarize officers with Surrey’s specific policing needs, SPS offers presentations by subject matter experts on a number of important subjects related to diversity and inclusion, local Indigenous communities, anti-gang empowerment, 2SLGBTQ+ community, leadership, trauma-informed practice, and more. Part of this classroom portion includes presentation from community partners that include: the Pacific Autism Family Network, Surrey Anti-Gang Family Empowerment Program, Progressive Intercultural Community Services, Pacific Community Resources Society, Semiahmoo First Nation, and Gurdwara Sahib Brookside.

Wellness Support

The well-being and support of our officers is very important to us. Our Wellness Unit is dedicated to providing care, support and training to our staff. We work with a psychologist who specializes in developing programs for first responders, and that psychologist is available to our members. We also have a Peer Support Team, a collection of sworn and civilian members who have received training in trauma, resiliency, and support. They are a critical resource for our incident aftercare programs.

Information Sessions

To learn more about applying to SPS, our commitment to training, and the hiring process, compensation and more, you can watch one of our recorded Information Sessions.