A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary








Cpl. Anthony Choy

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Cpl. Anthony Choy wasn’t sure what to expect when his parents decided to emigrate to Canada in the 1970s. One of four children (two girls and two boys), the young teen did experience a bit of culture shock when he arrived. 


“My parents took on the challenge of bringing our family to a new country for new opportunities, but I never thought I would ultimately join one of most recognized symbols of Canada – the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” says Cpl. Choy. 


Cpl. Choy grew up in Vancouver and chose to pursue a degree in Criminology at Simon Fraser University. That’s when he learned about the RCMP and its role in policing. Once he realized that he could combine his love of serving people in a variety of ways, with the largest police force in Canada, he didn’t look back and ultimately decided to join the RCMP in 1988. In the past 20 years with the RCMP he has managed to find a great balance between his culture and his career.  


“I can read, write and speak both Cantonese and Mandarin,” says Cpl. Choy. “I have always made sure that I maintain my cultural heritage and observe all the traditional Chinese customs and celebrations. I keep up to date on what’s happening in Hong Kong and China and even find myself watching the odd Chinese soap opera and movie in my spare time.”
Cpl. Choy has even managed to teach English as a second language at the Chinese Cultural Centre and with organizations like S.U.C.C.E.S.S. 


And when he is not volunteering, his full-time job has also kept him pretty busy. In the past 20 years Cpl. Choy has had a number of amazing career opportunities within the RCMP. He began as a Constable in Alberta where he worked general duty policing in both urban, rural and First Nation communities.He worked three years in Federal Enforcement dealing with customs, and he sent six years in Surrey Detachment in both general duty and as a school liaison. His most high profile job came when he entered the RCMP world of Media Relations, something he continues as a member of the Drug Enforcement Branch, which focuses on Organized Crime.  “I am often amazed at how open and inviting the Chinese community is towards policing and in particular crime prevention,” says Cpl. Choy. “I have received numerous invitations to do presentations on everything from senior safety to fraud prevention. I love sharing my experience and knowledge on matters of crime prevention to the public through my daily contact with the public.”


Though police work can have its many challenges, Cpl. Choy says his greatest challenge is finding that very important balance between his family life and his career.   


“I am a true believer that as a police officer, I need to take good care of myself first so that I am fit to help others. To find a balance between family, work, health and a social life has always been a high priority in my life.” 


Cpl. Choy is adamant that a career in policing is rewarding. However, you have to approach it with the right frame of mind.   


“Most people can do police work given proper training; but in order to make a career out of policing and make it rewarding for yourself in the long run, one needs to take a deep and hard look at himself/herself and determine whether there is sufficient will power, self-motivation, self-discipline, and endurance to face the challenges.” 


So what challenges lay ahead for Cpl. Choy?  He hopes to one day take his RCMP career to an International level and be a Foreign Liaison Officer in China or Hong Kong, two of 25 liaison postings for the RCMP.


Liaison Officers play a significant role in Canadian investigations that reach beyond our borders and are always the lead whenever the RCMP engages another country in pursuing major and long-term investigations related to national security, drugs, organized crime, proceeds of crime, commercial crime, and human smuggling. Using their knowledge of a host country, they are able to provide critical support to both domestic and international partners. 


But no matter what policing opportunities are in Cpl. Choy’s future, his past and culture will always play a role.  


“It is great to be able to integrate my culture with my career. I am proud to represent the RCMP in the Chinese community. But I am also proud to represent the Chinese community in the RCMP.”

 

Name: Cpl. Anthony Choy
Chinese Name:  Choy Boon Kit
Position:  RCMP “E” Division Drug
                Enforcement Branch
Years in the Force:  20 years
Hometown:  Hong Kong 

 

Did you know?



  • The RCMP has six Foreign Liaison Officers in the Asia Pacific – New Delhi, India, Islamabad, Pakistan, Bangkok, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, China, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


  • Liaison Officers facilitate major Canadian investigative inquiries in foreign countries; develop and maintain the exchange of criminal intelligence, including national security criminal intelligence, between the RCMP and approved foreign authorities; provide assistance to foreign agencies in investigations that affect Canada; coordinate and assist RCMP employees travelling abroad on official business; and represent the RCMP at international conferences and seminars.

 

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