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Our community-focused approach to policing was developed to ensure that Transit Police delivers services that support each community’s unique needs, so that everyone who rides transit feels safe. The Community Engagement Team (CET) supports this approach by building relationships with, and listening closely to, the diverse communities served by public transit.
The Crime Suppression Team (CST) focuses on intelligence-led, targeted policing, with the aim of making transit a safer place for the traveling public. Through short-term projects and joint force operations with jurisdictional policing partners, the CST responds to identified crime trends. In partnership with our General Investigation Unit and patrol division, the CST is able to quickly respond to incidents or areas of concern. Follow the CST on Twitter and Instagram.
Periodically, unattended packages are left in and around transit hubs and SkyTrain stations. The Transit Police Explosive Detection Dog Team plays an important role in the delivery of a safe and resilient transit system. Early elimination of unattended or suspicious packages minimizes service disruptions and keeps the system and its passengers moving. Our dogs are able to quickly determine the absence or presence of explosive odours. Having our own explosive odour detection dogs ensures a quick response and allows for preventative patrols in often crowded transit hubs or SkyTrain stations.
The General Investigation Unit (GIU) is a specialized team of Detective-Constables responsible for handling complex investigations.
This unit utilizes various investigative techniques conducted in both uniform and plain clothes, and includes officers that are trained in tactical surveillance, intelligence gathering, offender management and forensic interviewing. GIU officers investigate a wide variety of criminal behaviours such as sexual offences, fraud, robbery and other serious criminal offences. These investigations require correspondence with Crown counsel, the submission of court order requests and liaising with numerous law enforcement partners. Arrests are often the result of days, weeks or months of investigation.
The Information Management Unit’s mandate is to handle property and exhibits, police reports, court documents, fingerprints and other information. This unit also ensures that Transit Police complies with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA).
An intelligence officer works alongside crime analysts to identify crime trends, prolific offenders, and predictability of incidents. This unit also liaises with other police and law enforcement agencies and the safety representatives of our transit partners in order to address the safety needs of the region.
Police Communications Operators, often referred to as dispatchers, work in the Operations Communications Centre (OCC). They not only dispatch officers to where they’re needed, but also respond to text messages and calls from the public, communicate with other police departments and track information coming in from frontline transit staff. In addition, they are responsible for accessing a variety of information from several different databases to help officers do their job efficiently.
Not only does the Professional Standards Unit respond to complaints, it proactively identifies emerging trends relating to professionalism of police officers. Transit Police officers are provided with training and support to reduce the likelihood of behaviours that may give rise to complaints from the public.
The training coordinator and officers ensure our recruit constables’ journey through the police academy is smooth, complete, and that they reach their assignment fully prepared. Training staff also assist existing officers by maintaining their certifications, updating and upgrading their knowledge and training, and growth for any specialties.
Our recruiting officers’ mission is to attract and recruit the best possible candidates to join our ranks. The extensive application process and subsequent background investigation ensure that successful candidates are up to the challenge to represent the organization with exceptional results.
Responding to intelligence reports, crime statistics and complaints received from the public, the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Targeted Mobile Enforcement Team (TMET) works in partnership with jurisdictional police departments and public safety agencies to provide enforcement on and near the transit system. TMET provides strategic, project-driven enforcement of provincial statutes, TransLink bylaws, and the Criminal Code, to help ensure seamless policing across Metro Vancouver.
Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit
We participate in the provincial Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, an integrated team that develops and draws highly-specialized officers from federal, provincial and municipal agencies. This approach enhances intelligence sharing, coordination and strategic deployment against threats of violence posed by organized crime groups and gangs in our province. As officers are rotated through this assignment, they bring back valuable experience to use on patrol and share with others.
Lower Mainland District Integrated Tactical Troop
The Lower Mainland District (LMD) Emergency Response Team coordinates the call outs for the LMD Integrated Tactical Troop. This troop is comprised of 130 members, from across the RCMP LMD and the municipal police agencies of Abbotsford, New Westminster, West Vancouver, Delta, and the Transit Police.
The LMD Integrated Tactical Troop is involved in public order (Crowd Control and Management), disaster response assistance, scene security and search, and counter-terrorist search operations.
Each of the police officers on this team volunteer to perform these functions when needed. The team assists other police units in the LMD and has been involved in major operations within the province and throughout Canada, when necessary. For example, the team assisted the Vancouver Police Department with the Stanley Cup Riot in 2011.
Real-Time Intelligence Centre
The police officers and civilian staff at the Real-Time Intelligence Centre (RTIC-BC) analyse databases and open source material and provide real-time information and intelligence to front-line police officers. The information helps police respond to serious crimes such as murder, home invasions, violent robberies, serial sex offences, or gang-related shootings. Transit Police is a part of this joint law enforcement intelligence initiative in BC.
Previous Assignments
Transit Police participate in specific integrated units as the need arises and where there is a nexus to Transit Police work. For example, our officers were seconded to the Integrated Security Unit during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and the Integrated Riot Investigation Team following the 2011 Stanley Cup Riots. Other assignments have included the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, and Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team.
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