Meet Sergeant Jasmine Bader
Jasmine has 17 years of experience in policing. She spent ten years as a police officer in the lower mainland and has been with VicPD for seven years. At VicPD, she worked in Patrol and the Strike Force Unit before recently being promoted to Sergeant.
Becoming a police officer wasn’t Jasmine’s initial plan. She became a high school teacher but decided to switch to policing after completing university. She had finally found her perfect career.
She loves being a police officer because of the variety and daily challenges. Jasmine appreciates VicPD’s continuous opportunities for development and learning, and the chance to take on different roles, which she feels always keeps things interesting.
Jasmine is a member of VicPD’s Public Safety Unit, Peer Support Team, Ceremonial Unit, a Scribe for the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team and she coordinates community events.
Jasmine believes it’s important to have women in policing for a balanced approach at calls and has always felt supported as a female officer at VicPD. This support is mirrored in her personal life; one of her role models is her mom, who provides life advice and comfort after a tough day at work.
Tough days on the job is a part of policing, and balancing shift work can also be tricky, but Jasmine’s healthy lifestyle of working out, getting plenty of sleep, and eating healthy helps her function at her best.
"push out of your comfort zone, continue to learn and grow, and take opportunities when they come."
It also helps that she lives in a city that has easy access to nature, beaches, and mountains for a break from the busy workplace and downtown core. Jasmine enjoys Crossfit, hiking with her dog, golf, pickleball, mountain and road biking, interior design and reading on her time off.
Staying active is important to Jasmine, and it’s even better with friends; she says some of her strongest friendships are with her colleagues, who have become like family.
This sense of family extends beyond work. Last summer, Jasmine took part in the Pulling Together Canoe Journey with VicPD, her 8th journey but first in the VicPD canoe.
The journey is a chance to build positive relationships between police and Indigenous communities. She encourages others to learn about different cultures and says it was an opportunity for growth, understanding, and community building.
Whether navigating difficult waters on the canoe journey or handling complex files at work, Jasmine says that having the ability to work together and learn from new experiences is invaluable.
