2026 Ceremony and Conversation

SFU criminologist Rylan Simpson receives SFU’s Sterling Prize for his research on policing policy and practice

The Sterling Prize honours and encourages work that provokes or contributes to the understanding of controversy. 

From the front seat of a cruiser, Simon Fraser University professor Rylan Simpson has spent thousands of hours researching the inner workings of police.

In recognition of his groundbreaking and collaborative research driving meaningful change in policing policy and practice, the criminologist has been awarded the 2026 Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy. The Sterling Prize honours and encourages work that provokes or contributes to our understanding of controversy. 

Simpson’s work provokes controversy inside and outside of policing because of his applied focus and desire to work directly with police agencies as part of his research. Law enforcement can be a lightning rod for controversy, especially among those calling to defund the police. Additionally, police agencies can be resistant to having an academic inform policy direction.

“I got into this field because I wanted to make a difference,” says Simpson, an associate professor in SFU’s School of Criminology. “I wanted to try and impact policing and make it more effective, more efficient, more beneficial.”

Police are the most visible representatives of the state and are deeply embedded in our society, Simpson says. Police exist in all corners of our country from the smallest town to the largest city.

“Policing is at the epicentre of so much of our daily lives,” Simpson says. “I think that’s why my work is so relevant. I’m taking real-world problems and I’m trying to study them in ways that produce solutions so that we can continue to improve the institution as we move forward.”

As an example of his work, Simpson points to the Barrie Police Service in Ontario, which recently adopted a more visible Battenburg-style checkered livery for their police vehicles after his research showed the public preferred visible and identifiable vehicle designs. His current research project explores how providing officers real-time access to 911 calls can affect their response to calls for service.

Simpson, who grew up wanting to become a police officer, says he’s always been attracted to the dynamic nature of policing. As part of his research, he’s conducted hundreds of ride-alongs, accompanying police officers in the field and “trying to understand what the police do, why they do it, and how it impacts different outcomes.”

"Policing is a very exciting topic, a very dynamic topic, a very challenging topic, and also a very rewarding topic,” Simpson says.

Controversy penetrates nearly all elements of Simpson’s research. Simply studying the police can be considered contentious, while collaborating with them is considered controversial. Criticism of his work has included accusations of being “too pro-police” or even “copaganda.”

“I don’t just view police as passive recipients of my research, but as active participants in the research process – right from inception of an idea all the way through to implementation and eventually dissemination of knowledge.”

“I think that approach, which puts me in the front seat of a police car, is very unique, but for many people is controversial, because, historically, we haven’t seen policing research been done that way.”

Simpson says his goal is to improve and build upon the strengths of policing, to study what works well in terms of perception and functionality, and to amplify those approaches at larger scales.

“It’s my hope that doing this research in collaboration with police will help to contribute to that mission, to try and bolster policing to make sure it’s a beneficial, positive, respected and effective organization in our social fabric.”

The 2026 Sterling Prize Ceremony and CONVERSATION

The 2026 Sterling Prize ceremony and roundtable with Professor Rylan Simpson in conversation with Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston and West Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Nick Bell will be held at 6:00 PM on Nov. 25, 2026, at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue (580 W Hasting St.). The event is free and open to all, register here. 

Wednesday, Nov 25, 2026

6:00-9:00 PM

SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue (580 W Hastings St)