College Students Gain Experience in Uniform

A total of 34 first year members were formally invested into the 22 Division Rover Crew program on March 24 at the Toronto Police College.

“Arriving here is an indication of your abilities, your resilience and your steadfast commitment to public service,” Chief Myron Demkiw said at the annual investiture ceremony. “You all come from different backgrounds, but you all share the desire to serve. This is what the Rover program is all about – giving back. You are pursuing your post-secondary educational endeavours all while devoting your remaining time to volunteering.”

In the past few months, Rovers supported dozens of events, including the St. Patrick Day parade and the Polar Plunge at the Toronto Zoo.

The Rover Crew achieved its goal by raising over $1,000 for Special Olympics.

“By supporting these events, you have learned about local communities and we have learned from each other,” Demkiw said. “Most importantly, you are learning about leadership and responsibility. These skills will benefit you throughout your lives. You are the leaders of tomorrow, no matter which path you choose to follow."

“Community policing is an important part of what we do at Toronto Police. When we hyper localize and our members know the neighbourhoods we serve and when we partner better and co-ordinate our responses with other agencies, we make our communities safer. This will always be our top priority. So thank you for being part of this.”

Rovers volunteer in the community while pursuing post-secondary education and working full-time jobs.

Acting Superintendent Jeff Bangild, the 22 Division Unit Commander, said the students’ participation in the Rovers program demonstrates their steadfast commitment to public service.

“The experiences you gain at Humber and in the Rovers program will carry through to the next stages in your life,” he said.

The youths are enrolled in Humber College’s Police Foundations program.

Michaela Genevieve Gomez Pasia, 19, joined the Rover program last September.

“The end game is to be a Toronto Police officer,” he said. “The Rover program opened opportunities for me to prepare for a uniformed officer role. It is an instant connection to Toronto Police.”

Engi Mehanny also wants to be a Toronto Police officer.

“The Rover program gives us an insight to what policing is about,” she said. “I have been very engaged in the community, which is a big part of policing and I enjoy it.”

The teenager migrated from Egypt with her family eight years ago.

For 21-year-old Ranio Khoury who came from Israel four years ago, the program has been more than he expected.

“I thought it was something similar to Scouts and just volunteering,” he said. “We wear a uniform, do drills, engage the community and learn a lot about policing. I like that.”

The 22 Division Rover Crew is a partnership between the Humber College Police Foundations two-year program, Scouts Canada and 22 Division to offer Police Foundations students a chance to volunteer with police through a Scouts program in order to gain experience and give back to their community.

The Service now has a complement of 74 Rovers who support special events in Toronto, such as the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, St. Patrick’s Day Parade and other local events, such as bicycle rodeos and annual toy drives.

“To become a Rover takes time and dedication,” said Marlene Harris who is Scouts Canada Greater Toronto Council Relationship Manager. “However, to be part of a crew such as the one here at 22 Division requires a higher level of commitment with specialized responsibilities and expertise. I commend you all on this achievement.”

The Rover program is a unique and important pathway for Humber’s Police Foundations and Justice students to gain experience and connections in policing.

Nivedita Lane, the School of Community & Social Services Associate Dean, thanked 22 Division for their support and mentorship.

“The Rover program is unique, offering an experiential focused learning opportunity for Humber’s Police Foundations and Justice students to gain experience and connections within the policing field,” she added.

Rovers are the scouting designation for young men and women between the ages of 18 and 26.