Between classes: Cristina Barbat

Criminology

Cristina Barbat

is enjoying the ride.

Education:

Criminology Diploma, 2006
BA Criminal Justice (joint degree with UFV), 2008

Currently:

Constable, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Career goals:

Every day when I put on my uniform is a new journey on this job, which keeps things interesting. I get to meet, talk and deal with different people every day. I think I would like to get into some undercover work in the drug section down the road, but I still have a lot to learn.

Favourite law-related TV show:

I love “CSI Las Vegas” and “CSI Miami”. I was quite sad when William Petersen from “CSI Las Vegas” left the show. He was my favorite.

Favourite movie cop:

It would have to be Robert De Niro. I think he is a great actor and I liked his role in Righteous Kill.

Spontaneity’s a good thing

I’ve always been interested in law enforcement and criminal justice. I first wanted to be a lawyer but then I realized that involved way too much studying. I also found that in the past I would get bored easily at work. Policing keeps me interested in my job because you never know how your day will end up.

A positive step

I heard from my high school counsellors that Douglas College was a great stepping stone towards building a career. And I also knew the college had great programs to offer. I don’t think I would have graduated with a bachelor in criminal justice if I hadn’t gone to Douglas College first. It gave me the foundation that I needed and prepared me for university studies.

The challenging times

The hardest thing about going to college was finding a balance between school work, family and friends. My friends would always pick on me that I would never go out during the semesters because I had to study or write papers.

The good times

The best thing about college was all the great people I met and became friends with. Some of my closest friends I met while at Douglas. Also, the small class sizes helped a great deal when it came to learning. All the professors in the Criminology Program were very approachable and helpful.

Favourite instructor?

I really liked Dr. Colin Campbell. He was always to the point and honest with you. You could tell that he is passionate about what he does and he was always able to tell who was there because they wanted to learn and who did not really care. But then I liked all the instructors I had at Douglas. They were all so very helpful and easy to talk to and approach.

Knowledge that sticks

My education has worked to my advantage in that it gave me the knowledge I need to help me do my job. I have a good understanding of how the system and the courts work. It also helped me during my training at Depot (the RCMP academy). I never had any problems with the Criminal Code or classroom time during training. Compared to some of my troop mates, I found that I spend a lot less time on the research and classroom homework than others did.

On-the-job training

I think being able to talk yourself out of a bad or dangerous situation is something that not everybody is able to do. I have been very fortunate so far to not get into any fights. I’ve only had one scuffle and I plan on keeping it that way for as long as possible.