Meet Staff Sergeant Jen Ames
Staff Sergeant Jen Ames is approaching 29 years in policing and currently leads the Professional Standards Department. She moved from the Vancouver Police Department to Victoria Police in 2006 to reconnect with the community aspects of policing and says Victoria offered a variety of opportunities in policing in the most beautiful place.
Before pursuing her Criminology Degree at the University of the Fraser Valley, Jen attended the University of British Columbia where she studied Fine Arts, in stage and production management.
Jen realized she couldn’t resist the pull of the dream that had long been in her mind and decided to work toward a career in policing – especially since her best friend’s dad, a Metro Toronto police officer, was a role model for her while growing up in Ontario, and she had many police officers in her family to help influence her choice.
In addition to a varied career in policing that has included everything from bike patrol to homicide investigations with VIIMCU, Jen is proud of her nine years of volunteering with Tour de Rock, raising money for children with cancer. Currently, Jen volunteers on the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (GVPDAC), which includes police representatives and diverse community members from the Greater Victoria Area. GVPDAC builds positive relationships and improves understanding between the police and the community by focusing on fostering trust, improving communication, and addressing issues through meetings and event.
Jen also stresses the importance of accessibility, not just in physical spaces but in making everyone feel welcome and respected. She says this approach helps VicPD and the community we serve.
“It helps with someone’s comfort in walking into a police station if they know they are welcome there, seeing someone who looks like them, knowing they can speak their language, or having a gender-diverse washroom available can take away anxieties and make people feel okay walking in, knowing they will be heard and respected.”
In a policing career, Jen believes having a supportive partner is crucial and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family events. She and her husband stay busy with family, their pets, and their garden. Jen is a beekeeper and loves tuning into her hives.
“I think being respectful and compassionate is something that always should accompany our job, but getting involved with the DAC was just a whole different lens and new area of learning for me. The people that I’ve met and the opportunities that have come my way, just to get to know people from communities I otherwise might not get to know, has been awesome.”
Jen’s experience in EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) highlights the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment within VicPD. She says we get the best out of people when they feel appreciated and included as part of the team. She believes that valuing diverse perspectives strengthens the team and improves service delivery.
“We can be a lot stronger if we appreciate the diverse skill sets that people bring and also understand the different perspectives from various backgrounds.”
Jen believes it’s important for women to be in policing and encourages them to think ahead and explore the opportunities that might be available to them.
She said there was something about every single position that she’s held that she has enjoyed, “VicPD is always a fun and exciting place to work. I would say within every section, having the opportunity to do some teaching has been a wonderful way to connect with the community and my coworkers.”
She is thankful for the inclusive culture at VicPD, where women mentor and support each other. She says there is a need for diverse perspectives and leadership and encourages anyone interested in policing to apply, as it’s a great place to learn, grow, and make a difference.
