Student lands job as Police Chief for a Day

Visiting the York Regional Police (YRP) forensics unit and learning that each fingerprint is unique is hardly a typical day for Grade 5 students but for Alvin (AJ) Tam, it was all in a day’s work.

As Chief of Police for a Day, the 11-year-old Wishing Well Schools student in Markham admits he felt “very powerful and like a leader” when given the chance to sit in Chief Jim MacSween’s chair.

Chief of Police for a Day is an annual contest for Grade 5 students in York Region who are passionate about making positive change in their community. Contestants were asked to write a 300- to 400-word essay on their new ideas of how the police could enhance community relations.

As winner, AJ received his very own custom-made Chief of Police uniform, toured the YRP training facility and met with members of its Air Support, Emergency Response and Canine Units.

AJ lives with his parents, two older brothers and their two dogs. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing board games, chess, volunteering at local community events and playing the piano. He has a black belt in taekwondo and is a two-time Canadian National silver medalist in the youth sparring division. AJ also enjoys hiking in all seasons with his family in various provincial and national parks across Canada.

When he grows up, AJ would like to use his analytical and natural leadership skills to do something good for the world, such as pursuing a career as an astronaut, a doctor or even chief of police. Watch the video to see how he spent his day as Police Chief for a Day.

Photo courtesy of York Regional Police.