Richmond RCMP is proud to kick off celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of women joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This milestone represents a significant achievement in the history of diversity and inclusion within the RCMP. As part of this commemoration, they are featuring a series of profiles of RCMP members serving the Richmond detachment of diverse ranks, roles, and backgrounds.
Honouring the Trailblazers: Troop 17
On Sept. 16, 1974, 32 women from across Canada made history as the first female officers sworn into the RCMP, forming Troop 17. This ground-breaking event paved the way for gender equality within national law enforcement. Known for their resilience and determination, the women of Troop 17 faced unique challenges and overcame numerous barriers to set a precedent for future generations. Their contributions have significantly shaped the RCMP, with women now making up approximately 22 per cent of RCMP officers.
Constable Liu: A Passion for Youth Engagement and Community Service
Constable Liu is an enthusiastic and dedicated RCMP officer with five years of service. She currently serves as a key member of the Community Engagement Team – Youth Section at Richmond RCMP.
In her role, she is actively involved in the Yankee 30 program, a youth partnership initiative between Richmond RCMP and the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). The program is designed to support at-risk youth and their families by providing immediate intervention and guidance to prevent involvement in criminal activities.
Liu works closely with youth probation officers and social workers, focusing on the welfare and safety of youth, supporting them in navigating through challenging situations. Liu’s commitment to youth justice and her ability to build strong relationships within the community and community partners have been vital in providing proactive interventions and preventing youth from entering the criminal justice system.
Can you tell us about your career path and what inspired you to join the RCMP?
I was inspired at a very young age by a Japanese anime called Detective Conan. The main character was called Sherlock Holmes of the Japanese Era, which inspired me to read Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series and ultimately inspired me to want to solve crimes and help others.
I started volunteering at an early age, and joined Scouts to learn survival and leadership skills. In high school, I took Law 12 and in university, I studied criminology and psychology and was fascinated by the concepts and interesting cases.
I began volunteering with Burnaby RCMP, where I met wonderful office managers and police officers prior to joining the RCMP myself. To this day, I am still an active volunteer with Operation Red Nose, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing impaired driving.
What motivates you to continue serving in law enforcement?
I have always been a righteous girl growing up and wanted to help others, especially those who cannot help themselves. Now that I have realized my dream of becoming a police officer, I can better help others and it is incredibly rewarding to receive a thankful smile afterwards. Being able to assist those in need gives me a purpose in life.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how have you overcome them?
As a short Taiwanese girl who immigrated to Canada at age 10, I faced numerous challenges, particularly around language and physical expectations. Growing up, I was an ESL (English as a Second Language) student and had to take extra tutoring lessons to improve my English proficiency.
There have been numerous people in my life who underestimated my abilities, which drove me to work harder to prove them wrong and show that I am more than capable. Being physically at a disadvantage, I worked extra hard to meet the standards required to become a police officer.
On the job, there have been times when people have doubted my ability to assist them or were even racist towards me; however, I explain the situation and help them out to the best of my abilities. Not letting people get on your nerves and containing your anger may be a challenge for most, but it is a must for police officers.
Being able to control your emotions and realize that people are really just mad at the situation, at your uniform, or even at themselves, but not at you personally, helps tremendously in this line of work.
Can you share a memorable experience from your time with the RCMP?
One of the most memorable experiences so far was an altercation we were called to late at night involving a teenage girl and her mother. The girl was upset with her mother’s overprotective ways of parenting and the mother was upset that her daughter would not listen to her.
I took the time to listen to both sides, helped them to express their concerns and worked with them to develop a plan to rebuild trust in their relationship to prevent future escalation. Subsequent queries revealed there had been no further police calls from any of the parties for similar issues, and my supervisor later commended me for my efforts to mediate and guide them towards a plan to prevent future calls, which was a moment of pride for me.
Another significant experience was handling a missing persons file involving a woman reported missing by her sister late at night. I eagerly took the case and worked diligently to locate her.
Within three days she was located safe and sound, and the family later sent an email to the Richmond RCMP expressing their heartfelt gratitude for our efforts, which reminded me of the profound impact our work can have on the lives of others.
These experiences have reinforced my commitment to helping those in need and making a tangible difference in our community.
What advice would you give to young women considering a career with the RCMP?
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. Others may not believe in you or maybe you might have doubts yourself; however, I highly recommend just giving it a try if you are even slightly interested.
I had to withdraw my initial application 10 years ago for medical reasons. At the time, it was truly a disappointment as I had quit my job and was definitely ready to go to Depot. After recovering, I reapplied to RCMP and got my dream job.
Fast forward to now, I am a five-year member, and there have been no regrets. Join me in the wonderful world of policing and be a part of something exciting that can help change the community!
Celebrating history and inspiring the future
Richmond RCMP’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of women in the RCMP aims to honour the trailblazing women who are shaping our community with their dedication and service. Through a series of media features, we will highlight the diverse roles and background of women officers within our detachment, showcasing their unique contributions to public safety. We invite the community to join us in celebrating the historic milestone by following us on social media and our newsroom for stories and updates. Engage with the women officers who continue to make Richmond a safe and vibrant community.
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