Susanne Borg

Veteran Constable Susanne Borg knows that being a police officer is unlike any other career.

"I think it's about being empowered, being given the responsibility, and often being the first person there to help people," said Borg. "You're not a bystander, it's up to you to help."

After joining the job at 28, she had collected life experience and job experience working in public-facing roles at restaurants, in reception and security and considered policing after speaking to police officers she encountered at work.

“I love talking to people and working with people,” she said. “In my 27 years in policing the biggest skill is communication, having empathy. When you use your mouth, you de-escalate most situations.”

She lived in Etobicoke and but spent a lot of time at her dad’s mechanic shop in the Junction, immersed in her Maltese community. She asked to work in 11 Division first to help serve the community there by knowing the language and the culture.

“I grew up here, I love the big city and all the opportunities that it presents,” she said.

She spent over 13 years in every role at 11 Division, from primary response to street crime to major crime, before being assigned to work in Intelligence Services in a covert role.

“I got to do so many things at the Division and from there got a chance to work in Intelligence – you never know where this job is going to take you,” Borg said, of the over 100 different roles for police constable in Toronto.

She has spent the last two years working in the Recruiting section of Talent Acquisition, helping guide those seeking out a career as a police officer.

She knows working for Toronto presents a lot of opportunities to work in forensics or in the tactical unit or an investigative role.

It also presents the opportunity to put life and job experience to work right away as a Primary Response Officer responding to radio calls.

“The experience you bring to this job is valued and you’ll get to use it every day to make the city safer.”