Woodstock Police looking to recruit more women

The Woodstock Police Service is holding a recruitment event for women on Jan. 29 at Huron Park High School. (WPS Photo)

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Woodstock Police Service (WPS) is hoping to attract more women to a career in policing and has scheduled an information session for Jan. 29.

“This event is about showing women that policing is a meaningful, rewarding, and achievable career. When our workforce better reflects the community we serve, we are more effective in public safety,” explained Pritpal Thind, media relations and community service officer with the WPS.

“Women bring important strengths to policing, including communication, de-escalation, and different perspectives on problem-solving. For us, this isn’t about checking boxes or symbolism. It’s about building a police service that is operationally stronger and better equipped to respond to the needs of our community,” he added.

While there is no additional funding available to hire more women, the province has taken steps to support police recruitment more broadly.

“This includes eliminating tuition fees for the Ontario Police College, making it free for recruits to attend, increasing the number of available recruit intakes, and expanding training capacity through additional campus locations. The province has also committed funding toward modernizing Ontario Police College infrastructure to meet current and future training demands,” said Thind.

The WPS is recruiting for both sworn police officers and civilian positions within the service. The event is focused on introducing women to the wide range of roles available in policing and allowing them to speak directly with officers about career paths, training, and expectations.

Thind said the force is encouraged by the progress achieved to date but recognizes that continued efforts are needed to ensure the composition of its sworn ranks more accurately reflects the community it serves. He added WPS is pleased with the quality of its female employees.

“Our female officers and civilian members are integral to our success as an organization. They contribute across all areas of policing and consistently demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and excellence in service delivery. This event builds on that success by encouraging the next generation of women to see themselves in policing roles.”

The Woodstock Police Service continues to participate in the ‘Answer the Call’ campaign to support efforts to strengthen policing across Ontario. Thind said the event complements that initiative by focusing locally and giving women direct, face-to-face access to officers and members from the service.

The session is described as structured but informal. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with female officers, ask questions, and learn about the realities of the job. An optional shuttle run will also be offered, allowing participants to practise a component of the physical fitness testing process. The goal is to make the experience informative, approachable, and practical.

“Women make up more than 50 per cent of Woodstock’s population, and under the Community Safety and Policing Act, police services are expected to be representative of the communities they serve,” added Thind.

“This initiative is not about replacing anyone. It’s about widening the door, so talented people feel welcome. More women in policing improves operational capacity, reduces service delays, strengthens investigations, particularly in cases involving trauma or intimate partner violence, and enhances public trust.”

He added that, at the end of the day, the focus is on operational excellence, public safety, and ensuring that every woman and girl can see policing as a profession where they belong and can make a real difference.

The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Huron Park Secondary School at 900 Cromwell Street.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet members of the Woodstock Police Service, ask questions, and explore a range of career paths, from frontline policing to civilian roles. Grade 12 students are welcome to attend.

Registration closes Jan. 27 and can be completed by sending an email to womeninpolicing@woodstockpolice.ca.

The Woodstock Police Service is also recruiting Auxiliary Officers. Members of the Auxiliary Unit support the community by participating in events such as parades and festivals, assisting sworn officers with crime prevention and public safety initiatives, and providing support on certain calls for service.

More information is available at https://woodstockpolice.ca/careers.../volunteer-auxiliary/.