STAFF SERGEANT RAJ MANDER started his career with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in 2006 and quickly rose to the rank of sergeant within his first 10 years. He served in various sections of the department within the Operations and Investigations Divisions at all three ranks. In 2021, SSgt Mander accepted a position with the newly formed Surrey Police Service.

His passion for policing embodied the VPD mantra, “Beyond the Call” and evidence of this devotion was displayed in 2019, when the VPD faced significantly high call volumes across the city. SSgt Mander led a project team that redeveloped the VPD’s online crime reporting tool. This resulted in an eight-fold increase to online reporting, changes to front line prioritization of calls, and an 85 percent reduction of holding calls for service.

SSgt Mander takes an active role in the development of his peers. He instructed in six different training courses during his last year with the VPD. He also developed and implemented nearly two dozen community sport programs during his career, involving over 2,000 youth.

He is the recipient of 13 different awards, citations, and commendations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia. SSgt Mander’s continued passion for the community and public safety will play a critical role at his new agency in building a modern, progressive, community-based police service for the residents of Surrey, British Columbia.

“As officers, we have the ability to not only keep people safe—we are provided with unlimited opportunities to positively change their lives.”