Recruiting NCO - Sgt. Joan Elliott

Explicit content warning

11/11/22 • 31 min

We get to know Sgt. Joan Elliott a bit better on this episode. Her current assignment is to manage the difficult job of recruiting new officers, jail guards, special constables and reserves. Joan has served her Country as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces; she played rugby in university and after watching the TV show “Cops” she decided to apply at VicPD in October 2000.

Her career includes time in Patrol, the Mountain Bike Squad, Detectives, Regional Crime Unit, and the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit. Joan enjoyed the change of scenery when she worked in integrated units around Greater Victoria. Joan was also a long time member of the Public Safety Unit (PSU) and specialized in the tactical less lethal squad and the search team.

Joan shares some personal insight into being a mom and police officer working shift work while being married to another police officer. The VicPD recruiting process can be lengthy and challenging but Joan takes time to highlight the positive work environment she’s enjoyed and great support from the community.

Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):

Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/

Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/

Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/

Email us at [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):

Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/

Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/

Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/

Email us at [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Previous Episode

GVERT Tactical Leader - Sgt. JJ Musicco

Sgt. Musicco currently serves as the Tactical Team Leader of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT). We’re happy that he recently joined us in studio to chat about how he and his team are doing after a very busy and traumatic past few months. Six tactical team members were wounded by gunfire on 28 June 2022 in Saanich. The GVERT serves Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich, Oak Bay and Central Saanich.
JJ has spent 13 of his 18 years of policing in uniform on the front lines, and his service on the tactical unit of GVERT has been 12 years. He believes that police officers who choose to join GVERT are making an extraordinary commitment to their community. GVERT deals with many high stress and potentially very traumatic events anytime of the day and every day of the year.
JJ talks about some of his feelings surrounding the resolution of the high-end critical incident on 28 June 2022. Every day the GVERT is an important line of defense in keeping the citizens of Greater Victoria sheltered from violence, and unfortunately even with great training and preparation some members of GVERT suffered life altering injuries on that day. GVERT and many other police officers who responded that day need to be recognized as heroes – they kept us safe!

Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):

Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/

Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/

Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/

Email us at [email protected] for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Next Episode

MLA for Surrey South - Elenore Sturko

Former Police Officer Elenore Sturko joins us in studio to talk about her recent election to the Provincial Legislature and becoming the new representative for the residents of Surrey South. Elenore has a very diverse background and appears to be ready for her new position as MLA. Her experiences in policing make her a valuable asset to the official opposition which continues to hold the government accountable on important issues such as public safety.
https://twitter.com/elenoresturko
Interview Details:

2:30 Family influence to join the RCMP

4:20 Worked in TV and Radio

4:40 Served in the Royal Canadian Air Force

4:55 Joined the RCMP – working in Langley first

7:50 Would love to become the Sol. Gen.

9:00 Describes involvement in police media relations and then to the Diversity Unit

13:25 LGTQB rights in the RCMP – story about Sgt. Dave Van Norman

19:11 Coming out as Lesbian in her early 20’s and the stigma attached to that

23:00 Published her uncle’s diary about his police experiences and donates the proceeds to residential school survivors and young students in Nunavut schools

31:15 Discussion about being elected and the skills a former police officer brings to the role

35:30 Gang violence and the out of control illicit drug trade

37:00 Overdose deaths and lack of access to treatment

41:54 Mental Health Outreach Teams – need police to be involved

47:00 Recent announcement by NDP Government to reduce chronic repeat offenders?

52:40 Updated Crown directive regarding bail conditions and charge approval

59:00 David Eby tries to tell people “he hit the ground running” – Elenore has her doubts

Sound editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU):

Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/

Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/

Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/