Commander Serge Boulerice, police officer career.
The new PDQ 16 commander follows predecessor's approach
A native of Saint-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu where he still lives with his small family, Serge Boulerice has 27 years' experience as a Montreal police officer. Two weeks ago, he took over the reins of leadership of police station 16 as Commander.
Before arriving in Verdun, Serge Boulerice headed the PDQ in Parc Extension for two years. It's a very cosmopolitan center that Commander Boulerice enjoyed very much. He met people from a multitude of ethnic communities. One must adapt to community life, said Mr. Boulerice.
Verdun is a borough that he knows well, because he worked in station 22 on LaSalle Boulevard in the 80s. That was before the community police stations were re-structured, a subject that he dealt with in full visibility. Serge Boulerice in fact simply explained that the management of the City of Montreal Police Service should present a new plan to better assign personnel, based on the specific needs of boroughs. In Verdun, all services will be combined into one building in 2008. At present, PDQ 16 west and east are involved with two distinct addresses. Having said that, he believes that the community police idea is good, but as will be discussed soon - in the future - it will become borough police, and Verdun serves as a good example in this case.
Mr. Boulerice was also asked his thoughts on the brief terms of successive commanders in Verdun. This is the 7th change so far in Verdun since the community police stations were created. Commander Boulerice pointed out that these series of changes are coming to an end. He would explain it as departing retirees who come from a generation of chiefs and whom younger officers have to replace, little by little.
Action plan
The new commander intends to implement the 2007 action plan drafted by his predecessor. He says he is totally aware of the realities of crime in Verdun. In this context, he shared the opinion that the phenomenon of street gangs is less important here; the recent arrest of delinquent youth demonstrates the willingness of police officers to apply the zero tolerance policy in this matter.
Serge Boulerice believes in preventing crime among the youth. With his 82 police officers, the new commander intends to maintain police visibility, both in the metro stations and in the streets. A graduate with a diploma in police techniques from Ahuntsic College and a university graduate in public administration, Commander Boulerice wishes to make use his knowledge and experience to offer the Verdun community the best service possible. He has set an objective for himself to meet all the individuals involved and to evaluate the problems specific to Verdun.
Serge Boulerice has no time to get bored; the new commander of PDQ 16 is an athlete who plays hockey and enjoys golf. He is also a scuba diving instructor, a sport that he passionately engages in. He also likes to go navigating the waters seeing that he owns a boat.
Serge Boulerice has two sons. One is 13, the other 16, both of whom, according to their father, do not intend on becoming policemen.
Météo: Montréal, 22 mai 2008 / 12°C
/ Faible averse de pluie
/ Vents: 9 Km/h / Humidité relative: 67 % 
par Pierre Lussier 
Steven Guilbeault - 
