Narges Darbandi Pour had wanted to become a police officer for a long time. But when she came to Canada, she wasn’t sure that goal was still possible. An old knee injury had left her afraid of running and jumping. And although she knew she wanted a career in policing, she wasn’t sure how to get there.
Today, Narges has an offer to become a police officer with York Regional Police, and she earned it before graduating from Centennial College’s Police Foundations program. Her path from Police Foundations student to police officer included changing programs, overcoming physical challenges and taking on leadership roles. She also made important connections with police professionals through Centennial. Through it all, she says, her time at Centennial College gave her the foundation she needed to succeed.
A Change in Direction
When Narges first came to Centennial College, she was studying something completely different.
“When I came to Canada in 2018, I really wanted to become a police officer,” she says, “but because policing is not that good back home, I changed my mind.”
She initially enrolled in Art and Design Fundamentals. But one general education course gave her a chance to rethink her plans.
“They asked us to take one Gen. Ed.,” she explains, “so I decided to take criminal justice and see how I understood the content, because English is my is not my first language.”
The course gave her a chance to explore a subject she had always been interested in. It also introduced her to students pursuing careers in policing.
“I participated at Progress Campus,” she continues, “and it was a really good opportunity for me to meet students in Police Foundations. As I talked to them, I saw them in uniform, and it was surprising, because all of them were so sharp and they looked disciplined.”
The experience made an impression. She switched to Centennial’s Police Foundations program and returned to the career path she had once thought she had left behind.
Learning on her feet
The Police Foundations program gave Narges practical experience beyond the classroom.
“The most useful thing I learned wasn't just policing,” she says about the program. “I learned professionalism, discipline and how to act in different, critical situations.”
Her Police Foundations professors supported her as she worked through the material.
“I would talk to my professors all the time, asking lots of questions,” she says. “They were so patient and always answered me.”
That support helped Narges build confidence in the classroom. Outside the classroom, Centennial gave her opportunities to learn more about policing and connect with police officers.
“When I started the program, I only knew that I wanted to become a police officer,” she says “I didn't know how, where or when I could apply. At the Police Games, I had the opportunity to talk to York Region Police.”
Those conversations with York Regional Police gave Narges a clearer picture of a career in policing and helped her build professional connections. She also took on a leadership role in the Police Foundations program as a staff sergeant.
“In the second semester, I applied and got the position as a staff sergeant,” she says, “which was really great, because it taught me how to be a leader, to face different situations and just give them a solution. I had the privilege to become a staff sergeant for two semesters in a row.”
The experience helped her develop leadership skills that would prove valuable during the police recruitment process and throughout her police officer career.
From Student to Police Officer
Narges’s offer from York Regional Police may have come before graduation, but she is quick to point out that the achievement was the result of sustained effort.
“It didn't happen overnight, for sure,” she says. One of her biggest challenges was physical. Narges had practiced martial arts as a teenager, but after an injury, she became afraid of running and jumping.
“I did Taekwondo when I was really young,” she says. “I was 15 or 16 and I tore my knee ligament. After that, I never ran, I never jumped, because I was really afraid. So I decided to take fitness in my first semester. I noticed that I couldn't reach stage one-and-a-half in a run, which was really disappointing.”
That changed when she learned about a York Regional Police boot camp for women.
“When I was talking to the York Region police, they said they had a boot camp for women,” she explains. “So, in my second semester, I reached stage five-and-a-half, and they registered me for boot camp, which was a really great opportunity for me.”
Narges had pushed past a physical barrier that had held her back for years. The boot camp gave her a chance to show York Regional Police what she could do. Before graduating from Centennial College’s Police Foundations program, she received an offer to become a police officer.
Looking Toward the Future
“Right now, my focus is to become a great police officer,” Narges says. “I haven't started at the OPC yet, but I have some goals,” she says, referring to the Ontario Police College, which all new recruits go through. But she has goals beyond becoming an officer.
“I'm the person who always wants to learn and grow and improve,” she says. “So I really want to challenge myself. Maybe in the future, I’ll aim to get a leadership position in policing. I don't know what's going to happen in that future, but I have a really big goal to change something, and serve the community and people.” It is a goal that reflects the leadership experience she began developing at Centennial.
How Centennial College’s Police Foundations Program Prepared Narges for Policing
Looking back, Narges sees a direct connection between her Centennial experience and her policing career.
“Centennial gave me a strong foundation,” Narges says. “I learned subjects like Criminal Code, criminal justice and provincial offences, which I heard is really important in OPC.”
Her education also gave her skills that extend beyond the subjects covered in her courses.
“This program taught me professionalism, communication, leadership and discipline,” she adds. “I believe all of these skills will help me become a better police officer. And overall, I truly believe that this program gave me lots of skills, information and experience.”
For an international student who once worried about her chances of success, those skills show how far she has come. Now she is ready to take the next step toward her policing career.
Advice for Future Police Foundations Students at Centennial College
Narges's advice to future Police Foundations students is simple: don't give up.
“I really wanted to tell every student not to give up,” Narges says. “The process is really hard, but you have to be patient, and don't give up. Just do your best and don't let anyone stop you if you are following your goals.”
She also encourages Centennial College Police Foundations students to pursue leadership opportunities like the staff sergeant position.
“I really think they should apply to become a staff sergeant,” she says, “because I remember during my interview, when gave them the paper that proved that I was a staff sergeant. It really helped me, because they were so surprised and happy.”
Now, as Narges prepares to begin the next stage of her policing career, she hopes her journey can help other students see what is possible.
“Maybe I can inspire someone,” she says. “I’m always looking to help people, especially women coming from like Middle East, because I have experience.”
By Anthony Geremia