Ret. Sgt. Mark Steinkampf
Beat Policing, Tactics Expert
Areas of Expertise and Strengths
- street policing and its management; testifying in court
- knowledge of correctional settings, crime, and street lingo
- public speaking and teaching experience
- martial arts and street violence (Police Judo)
- physical arrests (hundreds!); practical use-of-force research
- emergency response protocols and team tactics
- equestrian policing
- streets drugs and their use; work with drug addicts and the mentally ill
- teaching, physical literacy, and film work (shooting)
Bio
Mark started his law enforcement career as a guard in a maximum security prison in Burnaby, British Columbia (Oakalla Penitentiary). He joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1991 and recently retired after 29 years of distinguished service. Mark had a varied career as a beat patrol officer as both a constable and sergeant in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside, Emergency Response Team member (ERT – often referred to as SWAT), and as the commanding officer of the Vancouver Police Department’s Mounted Unit. From these tours of duties, Mark acquired significant knowledge about extreme hard drug use and their consequences on those suffering from severe addictions and mental health challenges, high-risk armed entries and concomitant team tactics, and interacting with the public while on horseback (including crowd control).
Mark finished his career as a Use-of-Force Instructor where his focus was the safe control of arrestees using Crisis Intervention and De-escalation communication, cutting-edge physical control techniques (Police Judo), team tactics, and intermediate tools such as the conducted energy weapon (Taser), baton, and vascular neck restraints.
During his time as a beat officer, Mark was one of the founding members of Odd Squad Productions, a charitable film production organization dedicated to educating youth, with whom he has presented across Canada and at international events. Mark is also a Head Instructor for the Police Judo Club at the Justice Institute of British Columbia where he also teaches Applied Policing in the Law Enforcement Studies Diploma Program. Mark has received numerous commendations at the agency level, the provincial level (two Lieutenant Governor’s Awards), and at the national level (Governor General’s Award (MSM) and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal).