New Parking Officers Take On Vital Role

Parking Enforcement Officers are vital to keeping Toronto moving and public safety.

“During every shift, you will make judgment calls, drawing from your training and your knowledge of municipal by-laws to keep the city’s roads moving and people safe,” Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue told 35 recruits at their graduation on December 20. “Your work matters.”

Parking Enforcement Officers also help recover stolen vehicles, provide language interpretation, emergency support, crime management and assist with corporate and local community policing initiatives.

“You will be a highly visible uniformed presence in our communities and you will ensure public safety by supporting crime prevention,” said Pogue. “Each of you will enhance our organization with a wealth of diverse life and professional experiences, cultures and languages. I have every confidence in your ability to serve with professionalism, with integrity and according to our core values.”

She reminded the graduates that their health, safety and wellbeing are essential and they should make self-care a priority.

“As an organization, we will offer every support we can to assist with your success as you selflessly serve Torontonians,” Pogue added.

Of the 35 graduates, 11 speak another language, five speak two languages, three speak three languages and two speak four languages.

“Through you, we can engage with our different communities and neighbourhoods, speak to community members in their home languages, create and fortify relationships and thus enhance our ever-important partnership with the public – the critical key to all we do,” said Toronto Police Service Board Executive Director Dubi Kanengisser. “We are lucky to have each of you for your wonderful talents, valuable skills and unique insights. You truly bring the community into the Service.”

He paid tribute to Detective John Park who died on duty on December 20 after a medical episode.

“As you become part of the Toronto Police family today, you join all the extraordinary Service members who have come before you and some, unfortunately, are no longer with us,” added Kanengisser.

Before the start of the ceremony, a moment of silence was observed for Park.

Chandan Swan and Mariah Shaikh shared the Highest Achievement Award with a perfect score of 100.

A former Security Guard and City of Richmond Hill by-law officer, Swan is excited to be a TPS member.

“I have a few family members back in India who are in law enforcement and my father always encouraged me to find a career where I can help people,” said Swan, who migrated to Canada seven years ago.

For Shaikh, serving in the city she was raised in is very gratifying.

“When this opportunity came up to be a Parking Enforcement Officer, I jumped at it,” the Centennial College Police Foundations graduate said. “Growing up, I wanted to be in law enforcement.”

Kelly McIlory was the Valedictorian.

She joins her parents Gordon McIlroy, who is in his 26th year with Parking Enforcement, and Evangeline McIlroy, who spent six years with the unit before taking on a new role at Records Management nine years ago.

“I am so proud of our daughter,” said Gordon. “It is a great day for our family.”

Training Officer Lori Young trained all three family members.

“It is the first time I have done something like this and it is just amazing,” added Young, who joined the Service in 1988 and has been training officers since 1996.

The class trained for seven weeks.

The recruits’ training covered many subjects, including writing handwritten and electronic hand-held tickets, towing, private property, fire routes, accessible parking, considerations and by-laws.

They also received training in crisis communications, defensive tactics, tactical communication, powers of arrest, occupational health & safety and ethics training at the police college.

Assigned to a platoon at one of the three Parking Enforcement Units, each recruit is partnered with a Coach Officer to mentor them and allow them to hone their skills so they can confidently perform their duties.

There are now 304 Parking Enforcement Officers patrolling the city.

Supervised by Joanna Catania, the other training officers were Young, Pamela Carswell, Kether Graham, Karen Kivlington and Kim Nearing.