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New cop joins Caledon OPP as the community services officer

January 24, 2019   ·   0 Comments

Written By JOSHUA SANTOS

Prov. Const. Iryna Nebogatova joins Caledon OPP as the new community services officer.

Nebogatova previously spent nine years with Toronto Police Service (TPS) who worked as the school resource officer for 23 Division.

“It’s fantastic, said Nebogatova. I enjoy the community component. Not only am I a media relations officer, I’m a community safety officer as well which I am very passionate about. I believe in the community component of policing.”

Nebogatova said she lives near Caledon. In her subdivision where she lived, she said she experienced several breaks and enters, while off duty, and experienced first-hand the importance of having communication with police. 

“it’s important to work with the local police services to get, number one, proper information and proper advice which brings a sense of safety to people and my family, really, said Nebogatova. It’s important to stop and communicate with people and answer questions because it’s one of our rights to be informed.”

She said her family has been supportive of her changing services. She said her commuting hours are now a quarter of what they used to be.

“My husband is also a police officer so he’s very understanding and supportive, really, said Nebogatova. Any time I go to a call, I treat any family as if it was my own. Whether it’s a break and enter, whether it’s a robbery or a family dispute, I always say how would I like my mother to be treated. That’s the best approach to have when dealing with a community.”

“I think this is a very safe community and we chose to live here for a reason and I feel good about Caledon and what OPP have been doing for years, long before I got here.”

Nebogatova takes over for Tamara Schubert, who was involved in many programs in the community such as setting up neighbourhood watch programs. 

“She’s very friendly, which I believe in this position is one of the better qualities to have, that you have to be willing to answer questions and reach out to people, said Nebogatova. She’s fantastic. I’m going to have some big shoes to fill, that’s for sure.”

Nebogatova said a typical day for her is planning events, answering emails, reading through major occurrences and making sure people are informed about what’s going on in Caledon.

She says there’s a lot to learn but is able to manage it, believing that you can have 30 years on the job and still learn something new every day. She said she will learn quite a bit and is willing to learn.

“My motto in life, just I general is just do my best, said Nebogatova. As long as I go home thinking that I did the best I could today, I reached out to as many people who needed my help and we’re asking for information as I could, I think I should be okay and I am my biggest critic, really. 

Caledon for her, was her number one pick. She said she loves the community, finds the people are extremely helpful and very involved.

Nebogatova attended York University majoring in criminology. She was leaning towards a career as a lawyer but found policing to be a better fit for her. 

“I think about the third year that’s when I realized that I wanted to be a police officer, said Nebogatova.

She attended a recruiting session held by Toronto Police Service, reached out and filled out the lengthily application process. She then became a police officer in December of 2008.

I was assigned to 23 division, which is the Rexdale neighbourhood. It’s a tough neighbourhood, said Nebogatova. I, for the most part, spent time in primary response unit, which is general patrol duties here. Answering radio calls and dealing with hot situations. I also did two years in schools. I was a school resource officer there as well and this was when I realized how much I enjoy working with communities and working with youth and really different stakeholders and that it takes so many agencies to build a safe community.”

As an officer for TPS, she remembers a call that occurred nine years ago during a scaffolding incident. 

Four people were killed, and one was critically injured when a scaffold on the east side of 2757 Kipling Ave. failed, according to the Toronto Star. Nebogatova was there on the scene.

“I was brand new on the job, and it was a scaffolding collapse that happened on Christmas Eve, said Nebogatova. Even though I only a few months on the job, I believe it’s going to be the biggest investigation that I’ve been involved with. 

“It changed a lot of labour laws. Rules and procedures where we’re working at heights. It was a pretty big case. I was involved and because I speak Russian and Ukrainian, a lot of the workers and families spoke the language, I was able to assist and translate and help out with the investigation that way.”

The migrant workers were between the ages of 30 and 40 according to the article. The platform snapped in two. The employees were reinforcing and repairing balconies on the southside of an 18-storey building.

Nebogatova said the biggest difference between Toronto Police Service and Caledon OPP is the feeling of a community.

“I find, in my experience from what I’ve seen in Caledon, a majority of the people I’ve dealt with lived here for years, said Nebogatova. You have generational homes, people know their neighbours and they’re willing to help. They share information with us more willingly.

“I lived in Toronto briefly when I moved from the Ukraine when I was 16 and unfortunately, there is no such closeness. Some days, you live four years without knowing your neighbour because people move all the time. I want to say that feeling of community in Caledon is amazing.”

Working for a large municipal police force and then transitioning to a provincial police authority is different, however, she explained there are similarities in both services.

“Policing at the end of the day, you deal with very similar situations, said Nebogatova. Regardless, with communities, you will always have your domestic disputes, you will deal with people with mental health concerns, you have family disputes regardless where you police. The bones remain the same regardless of the area.”

Toronto has different areas, such as Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough, combined together, however Caledon is a large town, geographically, in the Greater Toronto Area.

“I find that’s what Caledon is so great, said Nebogatova. You have your dense pockets, like Bolton and Southfields areas where you have thousands of people living together, so you have your almost municipal policing. 

“You also your rural (areas). I definitely been to some dark spots in Caledon where it can get a little lonely but you always have backup. Your backup is always there and policing is all about teamwork.”

In her career so far, she said she has come across some difficult and tragic situations but always has the right attitude to help people.

“Policing gives you that perspective on life that no other job will and appreciating what you have, said Nebogatova.

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