KIMBERLEE NEWTON

What motivated you to choose Confederation College, and what inspired your decision to pursue your program?

I always had an interest in law enforcement and policing, so I took the Police Foundations Program to learn more. I found it very helpful in making my decision to pursue a career in policing. I applied to the OPP at the age of 20 right after graduating, but was not hired. Then 10 years later, after moving to Southern Ontario and gaining a lot more life experience, I decided to try again, and was hired by Halton Regional Police Service. I’ve been a police officer now for 9 years, and even though the career can be very challenging in many different ways, I’m still happy with my decision.

What was the most impactful experience during your time at Confederation College, whether academic, extracurricular, or personal?

During my second month of being in the program I actually lost one of my closest friends. Due to that experience I’ve learned a lot about loss and grief, as well as how to cope with that pain while continuing to live my life. That experience strengthened my resilience, and helped me develop a deeper sense of empathy and compassion for others who may be going through a hard time. This has certainly allowed me to better support people in crisis and serve my community more effectively as a police officer.

How has your time at Confederation College shaped your journey, both personally and professionally?

My time at Confederation College was my first step in making my career choice and was a very valuable part of my life. I not only gained knowledge which helped me to pursue this career, but I also met a lot of new people with varying backgrounds, and gained a few life long friends.

What are you up to now?

I am currently a police officer and have spent time working in criminal investigations as well as homicide. I am also now a mom with one son who is 4 years old. I had some unexpected challenges after having my son, as it has changed my life priorities, and it brought up some past calls in which I dealt with children. I ended up needing to go off work after being diagnosed with PTSD, and am in the process of intense therapy with the goal of returning to work.

Is there anything else you'd like to share? Whether it's personal or professional—have you recently bought a house, tied the knot, or received an award? We'd love to hear about it!

I recently was filmed for a documentary about PTSD recovery, and mental health is something that I plan to focus on when I return in order to help my fellow officers. I also plan to speak to new and future officers about the mental-health side of policing and share my story, so they know they’re not alone in what they might face. I hope to help normalize reaching out for mental-health support for everyone, no matter what career they’re in.
I also am volunteering with a non profit organization called Veterans and Everyday Heroes (V-EH) which helps support veterans and first responders who may be struggling with mental or physical health.