We have 2 guests today. Both of them are long time veterans with our London Police Service and they are here to tell us about the work that they do in their current divisions. One topic is a favourite one for Londoners to talk and - sometimes - complain about. The other is a program that might be news to you. There are multiple career paths that a member of the London Police Service can take - it’s one of the exciting parts of what is a really difficult job. Mike's career path is a good example of this. Like most officers, Staff Sergeant Mike Anderson started working in Uniformed Patrol before being transferred to the Major Crime Section. Mike worked in Major Crime for 4.5 years before being promoted to Sergeant. He returned to Uniform Patrol for about 12 months when he then moved back to Major Crime, this time serving as a Detective for 4 years. Recently he recieved a promotion to Staff Sergeant and, earlier this year, Mike was transferred to the Traffic and Safety Division where he now supervises a Sergeant and 15 Constables as they work to keep London roads safe for all of us. Also joining us in this episode is Constable Julia Piening, a 20 year veteran with our London Police Service. Julia teaches part time at Fanshawe College, speaks French and Spanish and has two, as she refers to them as, “wonderful kids” - and I’m sure they are! She also tells me that she owes a lot of her grit and perseverance to her mom. Like Mike, Julia started in Uniform Patrol. She has served as the Missing Person Coordinator, she’s worked on a joint project with Guns and Drugs and in Corporate Services for Special Projects, Julia has also served in the Forensic Digital Evidence Unit, as a School Resource Officer. These days, Julia is member of the Community Services Division where she coordinates a program called “Project BUILDS”, a project designed to build trust and create positive connections between police and the London's youth and all residents. In this role, she facilitates a program called “Youth In Policing Initiative”, or “YIPI” for short and that's what she tells us about in this episode.
