Richmond RCMP continues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. As part of this commemoration, they are featuring a series of profiles of RCMP members serving the Richmond detachment, highlighting their 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 percent of RCMP officers.
Corporal Melissa Lui: A journey of leadership and commitment
Cpl. Melissa Lui is a seasoned RCMP officer with 17 years of service. She recently assumed the role of High-Risk Offender Coordinator for the Richmond detachment.
Lui’s career path has included significant roles such as NCO of the Richmond Economic Crime Unit (ECU), where she led complex investigations into financial crimes and spearheaded the cryptocurrency tracing program in Richmond.
One of Lui’s notable accomplishments is her involvement in Project EPOLL, a murder investigation that left no questions unanswered. The case involved the murder of Lianjie Guo in 2012, where Lui played a critical role due to her language skills and professional dedication.
The investigation led to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator, William Tang, who was sentenced to life in prison.
Lui’s ability to navigate complex family dynamics and her commitment to justice were instrumental in resolving the case.
Her current responsibilities involve overseeing high-risk offenders in Richmond, working closely with the Crown, probation and parole officers to monitor and assess these individuals. She manages the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative (ReVOII) for Richmond, a provincial initiative aimed at reducing violent offending.
Lui also showcases her commitment to community and public education by developing fraud prevention campaigns and presentations for Richmond residents, community groups, and media, which she delivers in multiple languages.
What inspired you to join the RCMP?
I grew up in Markham, Ont., where there was limited presence of RCMP officers. My knowledge of the RCMP was limited to knowing they are the police of Canada, similar to the FBI in the USA, and that it must be very special and prestigious to become an RCMP officer.
In high school, I joined a co-op program where I worked at the York Regional Police Forensic Identification department and where I was first introduced to the world of policing. From there, I developed an interest in forensics, solving crimes and investigations.
It was during my university years when a friend asked if I was interested in becoming an RCMP officer. Prior to that, I had not thought about it. I imagined it would be pretty cool to own and wear the Red Serge and Stetson!
I started doing some research, learned about the application process and the wide variety of opportunities the RCMP has and decided to give it a try. To sum it up, what initially attracted me to the RCMP was how prestigious and cool it is to become an Asian RCMP officer!
What motivates you to continue serving in law enforcement?
I believe in the importance of safe communities, and protecting the citizens of each community. I want to be a positive role model for children, including my own, who will eventually be our future and the ones who will continue to keep everyone safe.
Can you share some details about your career path and achievements?
My career began in Richmond in General Duty, followed by various roles including at YVR Airport, Serious Crimes Unit, Economic Crimes Unit, and the Training Unit.
In June, I transitioned to my current role as High Risk Offender Coordinator, where I oversee the ReVOII program for Richmond, monitor high-risk offenders, and act as the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Coordinator for Richmond. My responsibilities include attending monthly meetings with various stakeholders, proactively monitoring identified individuals and providing support to other members.
Some of the achievements I’m most proud of include my role in Project EPOLL, a high-profile murder investigation involving a Chinese national staying in Richmond on a student visa, for which I was heavily relied on to assist with witness management as a majority of the witnesses spoke only Cantonese or Mandarin.
Throughout the investigation, I spent many hours with the family, including the accused (now convicted), and developed a professional relationship with them. As Tang’s role transitioned from the complainant to the suspect, I maintained professionalism and ensured his rights were not breached, and ultimately, we secured a full confession.
For my role in this investigation, I received an IHIT Certificate of Recognition, a thank you letter from the Consul General of PRC in Vancouver and a letter of commendation from Crown Counsel.
What challenges have you faced in your career and how have you overcome them?
What stands out to me is Depot. Depot is our training facility in Regina where all RCMP members spend six months training to become police officers.
I went through Depot in 2006-2007, and when I arrived on base, I quickly realized I was one of two Asian females on the entire campus. The majority of cadets were tall Caucasian males. I definitely felt like the "visible minority" and that all eyes were on me! While everyone treated me with respect, and I didn’t feel any sense of racism, there was an inner sense of self-consciousness that I had something extra to prove and would have to work harder to prove it.
Being smaller in stature, I knew I was not as physically fit as taller, "stronger" male troopmates. I almost failed my first PARE (physical test), only being six seconds away from being sent home. In August 2006, my PARE time was 4:10 going into Depot, and my first PARE at Depot was 4:39.
If we don’t complete it within 4:45, we get sent home. It was not the running portion that challenged me, but the upper body strength. From then on, I knew I had to work on it, and for the remainder of my training I continued to persevere and focus on my strength.
In exchange for tutoring lessons on laws and the Criminal Code, I got tips on various workouts to improve my upper body (arms and chest) strength from my troopmates. My second PARE time was 3:35, and my third and final PARE was 3:30!
Similarly, during PDT (Police Defensive Tactics) classes, facilitators and troopmates would size me up and often pair me up with someone physically stronger and bigger. There was a lot of pressure on me to perform and to not give up. My competitive nature rose to the occasion where I surprised everyone with my speed and flexibility, easily escaping and manipulating my body to break free.
Firearms is another common challenge for cadets, and one of my very few "lacked improvement" was for firearms, particularly my grip strength. I had never touched let alone shot a gun prior to Depot. I was provided extra guidance and grip strengthening classes. I followed through on the exercises, practiced shooting at every opportunity, and in just a few short months I was able to achieve my "cross pistols," which is a score of 225 or higher on the pistol qualification.
At one point I called home to my mom complaining that I was homesick and mentally tired and drained from training. Instead of hearing the answer I wanted to hear, "It’s OK, Mel, you can come home," she said to me "Suck it up and do your best!" I was in complete shock and definitely felt the pressure of not failing or letting my family and friends down, and to become a proud Asian female RCMP officer.
Overall, I overcame my challenges through hard work, determination and a never-give-up mentality. Practice does make perfect, and all goals are achievable and attainable. Just dig deep, and do it!
Can you share a memorable experience from your time with the RCMP?
One of my many memorable experiences was working for the summer fires in 2021. There are no boundaries within the RCMP. There are lots of opportunities and various jobs available across the province, across Canada and even worldwide.
In the summer of 2021, I was deployed to Vernon to assist with the fires in the area of Westside Road, which is west of Vernon, north of Kelowna. I had never been to Vernon or any of the surrounding areas. Working there for seven days allowed me to experience a part of B.C. that I would never have experienced otherwise. From this deployment, I realized how beautiful B.C. is, how calm the rural areas can be compared to the city, and I got the opportunity to stargaze just by looking up at the night sky.
I also got to see, first-hand, the intensity of the wildfires, the devastating loss and damages to nature, wildlife and properties.
The area was evacuated so no residents were there. Every shift, we would bring extra apples from the detachment and pull over and feed the horses as we drove by. The horses were conditioned to gallop towards the road as soon as they saw police cars driving up, knowing we were coming with food! I met many other RCMP members also deployed there, and I experienced a totally different community-based environment.
What advice would you give to young women considering a career with the RCMP?
Dream big and believe you can change the world. Have the courage to take risks, sometimes big risks. There will be mistakes and adversity, too. How we learn from our mistakes and how we face adversity will determine our success.
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 have shaped our community with their dedication and courage.
The RCMP invites the community to join in celebrating this historic milestone by following them on social media and their newsroom for stories and updates. Engage with the women officers who continue to make Richmond a safe and vibrant community.
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