March 18, 2024
Seneca News
Getting a head start on a policing career
Ivanna Shaikh combines her crime and intelligence analysis studies with work as an OPP cadet
When the OPP took Ivanna Shaikh’s fingerprints, she knew she’d made it as a cadet.
Ms. Shaikh, a second-year student in the Honours Bachelor of Crime & Intelligence Analysis (CIA) degree program, was fingerprinted as part of the OPP’s background check. She’s been working with officers since she graduated from the service’s cadet training in December.
“I love it,” the 20-year-old said. “I’ve learned so much.”
More than 400 people applied for the cadet program, the first to be offered provincewide since 2010. Ms. Shaikh is one of 30 cadets to get the one-year cadet contract, which has a possible one-year extension. As a full-time student, she works for the police between 15 and 40 hours a week during the academic year and 40 hours a week when school is not in session.
Cadets accompany officers on patrols, help with collecting evidence and court administrative functions, among other duties, said Shernett Williams, Acting Staff Sgt. with the Career Development Bureau.
“It’s a great stepping stone for anyone who wants to get a foot in the door,” Acting Staff Sgt. Williams said. “It’s very hands-on.”
It begins with two weeks of training at the OPP headquarters in Orillia. Ms. Shaikh said she was busy from 4.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. learning about computer systems, de-escalation techniques and criminal law.
After that, she started to work with the OPP’s Aurora detachment in the Highway Safety Division.
“I like doing what the officers are doing,” she said, noting she’s done roadside checks, collision reports and community events.
Ms. Shaikh said she’s grateful to be part of the cadet program, which she learned about through Seneca.
Since she started the CIA program she’s done everything from attending the International Association of Women Police conference in Niagara Falls to volunteering at the Crime Scene Investigation competition that Seneca hosted.
Gary Galbraith, Chair, School of Public Safety, said he’s impressed with Ms. Shaikh’s achievements.
“It’s inspirational to see a student doing so much, so early in their career,” Mr. Galbraith said. “It shows you that professional development and opportunities occur from day one.”
And that all helps when it comes to getting a job in the field, he said, noting there’s a high demand.
The number of police hasn’t kept pace with population growth for about a decade, according to a Statistics Canada report. There were 181 officers per 100,000 people in 2022 and police forces across the country are hiring.
“We always need officers for the OPP,” said Acting Staff Sgt. Williams, who started her 31-year policing career, after graduating from Seneca.
The OPP plans to hire 130 officers every January, April, June and September, she said, noting there are about 5,800 in the force overall.
Ms. Shaikh hopes to join their ranks one day.
“It is rare for a practising, hijab-wearing Muslim woman to choose such a path,” she said, adding she credits her parents, Uzma Khan and Imran Haider, for their encouragement.
“Since I was 12, I wanted to be a homicide detective,” Ms. Shaikh said. "They have been very supportive of my dreams.”
“My end goal is to be an OPP officer working in forensics.”
