The Vancouver Police Department is gearing up to get new recruits. However, they're not doing it in the usual places or methods that you'd expect them to. Right now, they're undergoing Second Life training to try and wrangle in new cops from there.

The police force is looking for internet-savvy people who can aid them in operations and investigations which involve cyber crimes, fraud and abuse. Their avatars are draped in cop uniforms complete with badges and radios for easy and unmistakable identification.

Police Inspector Kevin McQuiggin says that the move is strategic because out of the 6.7 million people in the alternate universe, the majority of them are proficient with internet culture and protocol. These people are exactly what the force needs right now and the department is on the look-out for them.

"It's important for us, as an organization, to keep abreast of modern technology -- both from an educational standpoint and an outreach standpoint, and from an investigative standpoint," remarks the inspector.

Seminars within the virtual world are going to be held to orient the prospects on exactly what they'll be doing if they decide to get into the real job. As a reward, the cops give out shirts and doughnuts to those who show up.