Kwantlen Polytechnic University criminology instructor Galib Bhayani has received the Outstanding Service Award from RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki for helping establish the new Iraq police service.
The award is one of the highest awards given to serving officers of the RCMP, the other being the Outstanding Bravery Award.
Bhayani is Superintendent of North Vancouver RCMP and has taught at KPU part-time for the past 11 years. He started his career in policing 28 years ago with the Delta Police.
“I fell into it by accident. I actually wanted to go into law school at one point in time in my career but I am fortunate to find such rewarding work that allows me to contribute to local and international communities. I joined the Delta Police Department first, then transferred to the international side of the RCMP,” he says.
“I have travelled extensively, mainly to conflict-ridden countries, partly due to my work in the RCMP. I was posted in Sudan for the UN at one point in time as well. So, the opportunity to do international humanitarian work was really interesting to me.”
The Outstanding Service Award is for Bhayani’s work as the first senior Canadian police advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office in Baghdad from 2016 to 2017.
“With ISIS and a lot of other things happening there I was tasked with advising the prime minister how to restore the police service with other European members on my team. We planned on building over 100 police stations north of Iraq as our advice to the Prime Minister.”
Bhayani teaches policing, policing reform and justice issues at KPU. He says he’s had a chance to mentor and coach students, not just about policing but where they want to go in their career. Many of his students end up going into teaching, nursing and law.
“Students will reach out to me asking for career advice that maybe they weren’t able to at bigger post-secondary institutions. KPU gives the best of both worlds. I call myself a pracademic, I have the practical and the academic side. I’ve never been so happy to be a part of the KPU community” says Bhayani.
“Superintendent Bhayani is a valued faculty member in the criminology department,” says Diane Purvey, dean of the Faculty of Arts. “There is no doubt that his work with the RCMP and his experience with domestic and overseas communities enhances his teaching. The Faculty of Arts is very proud of his achievement of being awarded the Commissioner’s commendation.”
Bhayani has one piece of advice for students:
“Understand where you’re going, research what you’re about to embark upon. Be a critical thinker, it’s so easy to say yes and no all the time. Whatever line of work you’re getting into ask questions so that you’re not following, you’re leading.”