It's a real melting pot. We couldn't function without our own diversity. But bringing in highly educated junior members, from backgrounds as diverse as those of their clientele, makes Richmond a remarkable place to work, German believes. Fully half of its members are females from ethnic backgrounds. The staff can communicate in more than 30 languages, including English, French, Cantonese and Punjabi, on every watch.
Many members also converse in Russian, Japanese, Hindi and Mandarin.
The ability to meet the needs of a growing ethnic population continues to challenge police. But Supt Ernie MacAulay, the officer in charge, sees more receptiveness to a police presence than there was five years ago. Now the calls are coming to the detachment. By persistently following crime prevention and community policing techniques, members are building stronger community links. Their outreach begins at the front counter where information on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is now available in a variety of languages.