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Winners >Constable Richard Schaaf
Certificates of Distinction
Constable Richard Schaaf
Vancouver Police Department
Constable Schaaf has been interested in youth throughout his twenty-five years
as a police officer. The Minister's Certificate recognizes some innovative ideas
he has implemented to work with young people at risk and to promote a restorative
approach to youth justice.
As a cop walking the beat on Granville Street, Cst. Richard Schaaf saw that
many young people, including "street kids", have pets, but that very
often their pets are not properly cared for. He contacted a veterinarian friend
of his and persuaded him to offer a once-a-month free clinic in the downtown
area to examine and provide care for pets. The street youth thought this was
a great idea. For many of them their pets provide the only "love"
they have and they were impressed that someone else cared.
As they brought their pets in, they began to talk with "Constable Rick"
and to trust him. In turn he was able to offer a helping hand and to steer them
into rehabilitative services to get them off the street.
Another innovative project initiated by Cst. Schaaf is "Car 177",
a unit that includes Cst. Schaaf and a social worker, Sandy Jaremchuk, from
the BC Ministry for Children and Families. On the beat, Cst. Schaaf saw too
many young people being recruited into drugs and prostitution in Vancouver's
tough Downtown Eastside. Last year he asked for a mandate to provide a coordinated
police/social work response to the problem. He got the go-ahead for a six-month
trial that has now become a permanent program.
The Car 177 unit targets sexually-exploited youth—kids who are difficult
to engage and do not trust authority figures. Often they are "children
in need of protection" as well as youth at high risk of being involved
in criminal activity. Car 177 has given Cst. Schaaf and his partner a way to
be in contact with kids at risk and to offer them a safe exit from the street.
They work with Crown prosecutors, the courts and other community service agencies
to bring a coordinated approach to dealing with youth crime. Their goal is to
help kids avoid getting caught up in the justice system and perpetuating a criminal
way of life. Car 177 has been operational since December 1999 and has already
worked with over 300 cases.
Contact person: Cst. Richard Schaaf
604-717-3349, PIN#152
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