Bhavdeep arrives at work ready to see what’s in his inbox. Some days, it’s reports of graffiti tagging. Other days, it’s something more urgent, like hate graffiti. His mornings start with reviewing paperwork, planning routes and prioritizing calls in specific neighbourhoods, such as downtown. From there, he heads into the community to photograph sites, speak with property owners and outline next steps to ensure compliance with bylaws.
The work is part of Bhavdeep’s Police Foundations co-op with the City of Hamilton’s Licensing and Bylaw Services. The experience gives him a firsthand look at how classroom learning connects to frontline public safety work.
“The racially discriminating graffiti, having that cleaned up, and dealing with [property] owners regarding that type of graffiti, would be one of my proudest moments,” says Bhavdeep of the impact he is making. “Handling those situations better than I thought I could, it gave me more confidence.”
From classroom scenarios to city streets
That confidence didn’t happen by accident. It’s exactly what Mohawk College’s co-op model is designed to build through hands-on, industry-led learning. An optional component of the Police Foundations program, the co-op program supports students in full-time, paid roles that are directly connected to their studies.
Classroom prep plays a key role. Scenario-based exercises, such as simulated traffic stops and investigative practice, gave Bhavdeep a foundation in professional response and de-escalation. This prepared him for the pace and expectations of public safety work.
Once in the community, the learning shifted from simulation to real application. For example, navigating difficult conversations with property owners, especially in hate graffiti cases with tight cleanup deadlines, tested Bhavdeep’s ability to remain professional and empathetic while managing pressure.
“I am very introverted …. But throughout the year, I’ve gotten a lot better with talking to people,” he shares. “That, I think, is really important, especially if you’re trying to go into policing. Also, we learn about the bylaws and laws, so it feels applicable to our chosen field. [I knew co-op] would be good to develop those skills and build on them.”
During his co-op, Bhavdeep consistently took on real responsibilities—managing his time, communicating with the public and helping de-escalate situations. Together, these tasks became tangible proof of his growth.
“Having a year of community work with the City of Hamilton is something I can put on my resume when I apply [to the police services],” he says.
Strong community ties, real outcomes
Bhavdeep’s experience reflects a long-standing relationship between Mohawk College and the City of Hamilton. For more than a decade, the college has partnered with Licensing and Bylaw Services to give students hands-on experience in a municipal setting.
Steven, a municipal bylaw supervisor with 36 years of experience in law enforcement, has supervised Mohawk College’s co-op students for the past three years. Students, he says, take ownership of cases and handle complex tasks independently, which accelerates their career readiness.
“Co-op students … have become part of the department,” Steven says. “The amount of work they’re responsible for takes a lot of pressure off the full-time officers … It’s definitely an asset that way, and they’ve been performing well.”
By the time they begin their co-op, many students arrive with a solid grounding in procedures and bylaws, Steven notes. Working alongside experienced officers, who support them in their roles, shows them how that knowledge translates in a municipal environment.
“The experience that they have from Mohawk College … obviously helps,” he says. “But we [also] take the time to teach them the way we would like things to be done … so they build confidence that way.”
Bhavdeep agrees, noting that the supportive workplace culture made a big difference in his co-op. “At the start, we did have a lot of training … our training officer was really good … Even to this day, if I have any problems, I ask my training officer. Our supervisor is great as well. I just shoot them a text or an email, and they’ll respond right away.”
Beyond preparing students for their field, the co-op partnership has delivered clear benefits to Licensing and Bylaw Services. In the past year alone, the office has hired four co-op students, creating a direct pathway from industry-led learning to long-term community work.
“Most of our [team] now is Mohawk College students who have decided not to pursue the police department and felt that property standards may be the avenue.” Steven says.
Through his co‑op with Licensing and Bylaw Services, Bhavdeep gained confidence, professional skills and a clearer sense of where his interests align. Whether students pursue policing, bylaw enforcement or another path within public safety, Mohawk College’s co‑op experiences help them explore their options and move forward with purpose.
