Originally posted: October 30, 2023
There are a lot of great things about working at the VPD: it’s our home away from home and we’ve developed friendships and shared experiences that will last us a lifetime.
We chose a life of service that involves dealing with other people’s suffering, attending traumatic events, working long hours and missing family events. We have both loved and hated our job, and we give a great deal of our time and energy to it.
Our families, by default, are also on this journey with us.
In 2020, Department Sergeant Major (DSM) Ray Gardner recognized a gap in honouring employees when they retired from the VPD. Up until then there was no formal VPD recognition for a life of service.
DSM Gardner collaborated with Police Employee Relations & Advisory Services Unit (PERASU), and the Employee Wellness Unit (EWU), and proposed Departing with Distinction (DWD) as a way to celebrate and recognize retiring members for the contributions they have made.
The DWD program is for VPD sworn and civilian employees with 20+ years of service who wish to participate in the DWD program for a proper send-off.
Colleagues and family are invited to a formal ceremony held in the Graveley Atrium and conducted by the DSM and the Chief, with a small reception afterwards.
DWD takes place every couple of months.
Contact PERASU Sergeant Chris Berda to book your DWD ceremony.
Photo credit: VPD Photo Lab photographers