New Constables Start Careers in Policing
Chief Myron Demkiw told Toronto’s newest police constables they will forge a new path for policing the city.
“It is an exciting moment because we are making change happen,” he said at the graduation ceremony on February 20 at Toronto Police College. “We are building and rebuilding trust. We are accelerating police reform, making sure we have a modern service that works for everyone. We are supporting safer communities by building networks and strengthening partnerships. We have a vision for community safety and wellbeing and we are committed to breaking old patterns and creating new paths. We are committed to being the best police service in the world and you are now part of this mission. While we have no shortage of challenges, I have every confidence that you are ready and equipped to take these challenges on.”
Demkiw shared three important lessons he wished he had known when he graduated 35 years ago to help bring out the best version of the graduates as they set out to serve their communities.
“It is important to seek first to understand before you seek to be understood, continuous learning and education will help enhance your knowledge, skills and abilities and there is immense value in consistently prioritizing and practicing self-care,” he noted. “Reflecting on my own career, I can pinpoint specific periods when I did not prioritize self-care. And those mistakes had an impact on both my personal and professional life.”
The Chief said self-care is vital to safeguarding themselves against experiences they will face and building resilience as a police officer.
“Our health, safety and well-being are essential for us to serve our communities effectively,” added Demkiw. “Encountering unfortunate experiences is inevitable in our profession. You will deal with people during their worst and possibly saddest moments and those interactions may have the potential to be profoundly traumatizing.”
With their favourite officer now a member of the Toronto police family, he told the family members they, by extension, are also part of that family.
Before addressing the graduates, the Chief thanked Mayor Olivia Chow and Toronto City Council members for approving the 2025 Toronto Police budget and hiring 720 officers over the next two years.
“This will help us bring more officers to the frontline, help us reduce response times and keep our communities safe. This today, right here, exemplifies what this plan means for the Service and for Toronto, adding great and talented people to our ranks.”
Chow thanked the graduates for choosing to serve the public through policing.
“You have trained hard for this moment,” she said. “I know you bring empathy and the determination to help those in need. I see it in your eyes when I was talking to you. You are going to uplift and support your community, and you are going to earn the trust of the people that you protect and serve.”
As part of the Toronto Police team, Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll told the graduates they earned the moment through hard work, determination and a deep desire to serve their city.
“You are an impressive group and collectively you have remarkable language skills,” she said. “This matters because Toronto is one the most diverse cities in the world and the strength of our police service comes from reflecting the very communities you will serve. Your backgrounds, your languages and your perspectives will help build trust, foster relationships and make sure that every Torontonian sees themselves in the people who serve and protect them.”
A total of 48 percent of the graduates speak at least one language other than English, ranging from Hindi, Urdu and Tamil to Creole, Albanian and Farsi.
The class of 91 includes internal hires who were Parking, Special Constables, Auxiliary, Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) and Crime Analyst members.
YIPI graduate Veeththakan Kaveekaran, who spent the summer of 2018 at 42 Division, is among the new officers.
Established 19 years ago, the six-week summer program caters to high school and university students, between 15 and 18, who come from City of Toronto-designated Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and often struggle to find summer employment.
A total of 27 YIPI graduates are uniformed officers.
Since high school, Bianca Caputo, had her sights on a career in policing, building towards the career through her education and experience serving in civilian roles.
To prepare for the position, she spent the last five years as a researcher and crime analyst with the Service.
“In high school, I became interested in crime scene investigations and the work that went on behind the scenes,” said Caputo, who served in an administrative role at the Special Investigations Unit in the summer of 2017 while in the University of Guelph-Humber Justice Studies program. “That is where it all started and I never veered off course in my desire to get into law enforcement.”
She said the physical preparation was challenging.
“That was the hardest,” said Caputo, who grew north of the city. “I prepped for about 18 months in order to pass the physical test. Other than that, it was the soul searching, asking myself why I want to do this and how I could make an impact.”
But she only applied to Toronto.
“I have worked with the organization for five years and it has made me who I am,” said Caputo, who led her class with a 96%. “I learned a lot about the organization and myself and there was nowhere else I was going to go.”
She is going to 14 Division.
Before relocating to the Greater Toronto Area in 2021, Zebulan Williams was a police officer for 11 years in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
“After I got married four years ago, I decided I wanted to continue with this career,” he said. “I knew the process was going to be difficult, but I was determined to make it happen.”
Fellow Vincentian 31 Division Constable Julius Jack helped recruit and prepare Williams his new role.
After completing the University of Guelph-Humber Bachelor of Applied Science degree program in 2023, Simran Ranu was encouraged to consider a law enforcement career.
“I joined the Toronto Police Auxiliary program and was inspired by the officers I interacted with,” said Ranu, who was assigned to 31 Division. “They obviously saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself at the time. That is when I decided I wanted to be in policing. Toronto was the only Service I sent in an application to because this is where I was born and raised and I know my way around the city.”
Ranu had the support of her parents to pursue a career in policing.
“They saw some qualities in me that they believe make me a fit for this job. One of them is having a voice and being able to stand up for myself. As a police officer, I will be out in the community encouraging young South Asian girls to think about policing when they are looking for a career,” she said.
Marco Yeung brings a lot of experience in serving and protecting his community.
Before applying to the Service, Yeung was a Canadian Armed Forces Vehicle Technician for nearly 30 months and a Corrections Officer for seven years.
“With the military, I learned a lot about the benefits of teamwork,” he said. “With Corrections, I discovered what I am capable of what my strengths and weaknesses are. Those interchangeable and adaptable skills will help me in policing.”
Yeung is assigned to 55 Division.
International Association of Chiefs of Police Ken Walker also addressed the graduates.
“When I look back on my career, the only regret I have is that I can’t do it again,” said the retired law enforcement officer who was a police chief in Texas for over 35 years. “It was wonderful. I am proud of what we do in our profession. You are entering a profession that is unlike any other. It is also above service above self.
Several prizes were presented at the graduation.
Dimitris Dimakis was the recipient of the Harry Mayzell Leadership Award, Cameron Sparks captured the High Performance in Fitness Award, Jevanne Rochester won the Most Improved Fitness Award and Abdulla Alkaabi was recognized with the Gulshan Kassamali Diversity & Inclusion Memorial Award.
Balraj Virk was the recipient of the Drill, Dress & Deportment Award that was renamed the Jack Reid Toronto Police Military Veterans Association (TPMVA) Award.
Joining Toronto Police in 1941 as a Clerk in the Chief’s Office, Reid took leave two years later to enlist with the Royal Canadian Navy and serve aboard the HMCS Longueuil during the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Glen Cole Memorial Award was presented to class valedictorian Rickey Sayers who is assigned to 23 Division.
“The city of Toronto needs us to take care of them,” he said. “They are depending on us in very vulnerable moments. Just remember we are not the law. We are hired to enforce the law. Our personalities are who we are, but our honesty, courage, patience and passion executing our lawful duties is what will define us.”
Beginning last August 28, the recruits spent five weeks at Toronto Police College where they were introduced to the Criminal Code and the Highway Traffic and Provincial Acts.
They also received Bias Avoidance, Indigenous Experience, Mental Health & Addiction, Peer Intervention and LGBTQ2S training before heading to the Ontario Police College.
At Aylmer, the focus was on academics, police vehicle operations, defensive tactics, firearms and physical training.
Back at the College, they spent the last 10 weeks doing scenarios, report writing, vehicle stops and additional physical training.
Every graduating class raises funds for a charity.
Class 24-04 raised $2,810 and collected over 150 food items for the Daily Bread Food Bank.
The day after graduation, the recruits head out to their divisions for station orientation before being matched up with a Coach Officer who partners with them.
A total of four officers from the United Arab Emirates graduated from the program as part of the International Association of Chiefs of Police -UAE Ministry of Interior Officer Exchange program.
This is the first time the Toronto Police College and the Ontario Police College have hosted international students during recruit training.
